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Infantile botulism: a case report and review

Nicole Brown1, Sameer Desai

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky.

The Journal of Emergency Medicine
|July 23, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Infantile botulism, a serious condition in infants under 6 months, presents with vague symptoms like poor feeding and weakness. Prompt diagnosis and treatment with botulism immunoglobulin are crucial for recovery.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Infantile botulism results from Clostridium botulinum spore ingestion, being the most common botulism form in the US.
  • It predominantly affects infants under 6 months, often presenting with non-specific symptoms like hypotonia and poor feeding.
  • This case highlights an infant presenting with decreased feeding and constipation, leading to an infantile botulism diagnosis.

Observation:

  • A 4-month-old infant presented with a 6-day history of decreased feeding and 9 days of absent bowel movements.
  • The infant exhibited progressive weakness, inability to hold his head up, decreased tone, and hypoactive bowel sounds.
  • He required intubation and mechanical ventilation in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Findings:

  • Diagnosis was confirmed by positive botulinum toxin detected in stool samples.
  • Treatment involved the administration of botulism immunoglobulin.
  • The infant made a full recovery.

Implications:

  • Increased clinical suspicion and awareness of infantile botulism symptoms are vital for early diagnosis.
  • Prompt recognition and management can lead to favorable outcomes in affected infants.
  • This case underscores the importance of considering botulism in infants with descending weakness and feeding difficulties.
Abstract

Keywords:
Clostridiumbotulinumbotulisminfantile

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