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Botulism in pregnancy: A clinical review
Jayan Jayapalan Nair1, Divya Mecheril Balachandran2
1Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Employees' State Insurance Corporation Medical College & Hospital Naroda-Bapunagar, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology
|September 27, 2025
Summary
Botulism during pregnancy is rare but serious. Early botulinum antitoxin treatment shows promise for maternal health, with no evidence of placental transfer, though fetal data is limited.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Toxicology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Background:
- Botulism, caused by Clostridium botulinum toxin, poses rare but severe risks to maternal and fetal health.
- Limited data exists on the safety and efficacy of botulinum antitoxin during pregnancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing literature on botulism in pregnant patients.
- To assess the safety and impact of botulinum antitoxin on maternal and fetal outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Scopus, and Embase up to June 2025.
- Inclusion of clinical cases and antitoxin safety studies.
- Analysis of 20 cases from 17 articles.
Main Results:
- Botulinum antitoxin is the sole antidote for botulism.
- Early antitoxin administration correlates with positive maternal outcomes.
- No evidence suggests toxin or antitoxin crosses the placental barrier; fetal data remains sparse.
Conclusions:
- Prompt antitoxin treatment is recommended for pregnant individuals with botulism.
- Further research is crucial to fully understand maternal and fetal implications and optimize management.
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