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

A lab result is needed to confirm the presence of botulism. Infant botulism is determined by testing a stool or enema specimen. Diagnostic tests for other types of botulism include a brain scan, examination of cerebrospinal fluid, electromyography, and an edrophonium chloride test for myasthenia gravis. As some of the symptoms of botulism are similar to other conditions, a medical professional may use multiple tests to rule out other conditions, particularly if they are considered more common than botulism, which they often are. In some cases, a blood test may be used to determine very acute cases of botulism.