Botulism facts for kids

Botulism is a very rare but serious disease. It is caused by a tiny living thing called a bacteria named Clostridium botulinum. This bacteria makes a powerful toxin (a harmful substance).

You can get botulism in different ways. One common way is by eating food that has the toxin in it. Babies can also get it, and it can affect adults too.

What Are the Signs of Botulism?

If someone has botulism, they might show several signs. These can include a fever and vomiting. People might also find it hard to talk clearly. A big sign is weakness in the muscles, especially in the face. The toxin makes it hard for muscles to work properly.

How Do People Get Botulism?

Botulism usually spreads through food or through a wound.

Food-borne Botulism

Most cases of botulism happen because of food. Foods that are not canned or preserved correctly are often the cause. About 90% of botulism cases come from improperly canned foods. For example, if homemade canned vegetables or meats are not heated enough, the bacteria can grow.

Natural, unpasteurized honey has also been known to carry the bacteria. Because of this, doctors advise that babies under one year old should not eat honey.

Wound Botulism

Sometimes, botulism can happen if the bacteria gets into an open wound. This is less common but can occur if a wound gets dirty with soil or other things that contain the bacteria.

How Botulism Affects the Body

Botulism is a "neuroparalytic" disease. This means it affects the nerves and can cause paralysis. The toxin blocks special signals called neurotransmitters that nerves use to tell muscles what to do. When these signals are blocked, muscles cannot contract or move. This leads to the weakness and paralysis seen in people with botulism.

Medical Uses of Botulinum Toxin

Even though the botulism toxin is dangerous, it has some helpful medical uses.

Botox for Muscle Relaxation

The botulism toxin is the main ingredient in a medicine called botox. Doctors use botox to relax muscles. For example, it can help people who have severe muscle spasms or pain.

Botox for Wrinkles

Cosmetically, botox is also used to reduce wrinkles. When a small amount is injected into facial muscles, it temporarily relaxes them. This makes the skin look smoother and can make people appear younger.

Images for kids

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  An infant with botulism: despite not being asleep or sedated, he cannot open his eyes or move; he also has a weak cry.

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  A photomicrograph of Clostridium botulinum bacteria.

See also

In Spanish: Botulismo para niños