What is Botulism?
Botulism is in our environment especially in soil and untreated water to form spores (spore-producing bacteria to protect themselves, thus becoming resistant to the environment and this allows them to survive for a long time.)
A person presenting with botulism requires immediate medical attention and is a public health emergency because the contaminated food may be at hand from other consumers.
The bacteria that cause botulism usually thrive in poorly canned foods, poorly maintained and / or poorly cooked. The packed cans in stores for sale are rarely involved in cases of botulism.
The eat crops directly from home, fruits, vegetables, undercooked meat and seafood poses a risk of being a conveyance of botulism to our table.
Diagnosis and Treatment
One way to confirm the diagnosis of botulism is through a blood sample and / or excreted. To confirm this diagnosis begins with medical treatment that involves administering an antitoxin.
The antitoxin is available in three types (a, b, e), which help slow the progression of the disease. Multiple exposure or multiple occasions this bacteria increases the risk of conditions such as Guillain-Barre syndrome and the Eaton-Lambert syndrome.
How to show (signs and symptoms)?
This strong toxin is absorbed through the digestive system, reaching the central nervous system shutting down our muscles causing difficulty breathing, walking, blurred vision, pupils do not react to light. However, no fever and no mental disorders.
These symptoms and others occur over a period of 6 hours to 6 days after exposure with an incubation period of 18 to 36 hours. You need immediate hospitalization in the intensive care area if required to use respiratory machines and close monitoring.
The antitoxin is distributed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta and is derived from horse serum. Non-treatment may increase the chance of death.
In conclusion if you feel a great weakness in the body and slurred speech might need further treatment.
How can it be prevented?
• Avoid feeding infants under one year with medication and / or products made from honey and corn syrup. These products may contain botulism spores. The gastrointestinal tract in infants is still immature.
• Breastfeeding helps prevent exposure has botulism.
• Food should be well preserved and cooked.
• Avoid foods with a bad smell, swollen cans and / or beaten.
• The chemicals used to disinfect food can help kill the spores and botulism.
• The method of sterilization destroys bacteria and / or spores. In hospitals using a method known as autoclave sterilization.
• It is recommended to bake potatoes in the refrigerator, the oven should be done in hot foil. Not recommended to maintain and / or stored at room temperature.