Botulism 101: Types, Causes, Symptoms, Complications, Treatment, And Prevention

How To Prevent Botulism From Food

Foodborne botulism is the most commonly experienced type of botulism. Harmful bacteria live and thrive in environments with little oxygen, which is where they produce the harmful toxin that characterizes the sickness. When an individual is afflicted, symptoms will typically begin to present between twelve to thirty-six hours after consumption of the toxin and last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Learning how to prevent botulism from food is one of the most effective ways of reducing one's risk of becoming ill. The first and foremost consideration is to learn proper canning techniques when doing so at home. Pressure-cooking foods to be canned for twenty to one hundred minutes ensures the botulism germs in food are destroyed. Boiling also kills germs. Never eat from a sealed container with a bulge in it or if the food smells spoiled. However, taste and smell don't always give away the presence of the bacterium, so be sure to follow the aforementioned tips as well.

Preventing Other Types of Botulism

As discussed, in addition to foodborne, botulism can occur due to a wound and in infants as well. Wound botulism occurs when the bacteria enter a wound and cause an infection that produces the toxin, whereas infant botulism can occur when the bacterial spores being to grow in the baby's weaker intestinal tract. All of them are dangerous and can be fatal, but there are also ways of preventing these types of botulism. Researchers and doctors recommend not giving honey- even if it is the slightest taste- to children under a year old, as it is known to carry a form of the bacteria. In order to prevent the toxin from being produced in a wound and spreading throughout the body, it's crucial to take proper care of any wound, regardless of how small. This means using disinfectants and antibacterials, cleaning the wound, and covering it as necessary. Furthermore, the bacteria can be spread via inhaled or intravenously injected street drugs, so these behaviors should be avoided.