Many are interested in what botulism is and why it is dangerous, since the disease can provoke many complications and even leads to death. Botulism is an acute infectious disease associated with the consumption of foods containing botulism toxins. This disease is characterized by the occurrence of muscle paralysis and toxin damage to nerve fibers.
Feature of the disease
It is important to know what botulism is, and how it appears, in order to recognize the symptoms of the disease in time and conduct complex therapy. Botulism is considered one of the most dangerous forms of poisoning. Although this disease is considered somewhat forgotten, however, every year it affects people, regardless of their age and gender.
Botulism is caused by a bacterium that is deadly to humans. This disease refers to infectious diseases that provoke acute damage to the body by poisons and toxins.
The botulism bacterium can live in a warm environment devoid of oxygen for a long time. When boiling, it dies within an hour. If subjected to heating, then it is possible to provoke the formation of spores. They do not respond to temperature changes and other external factors. Botulinum spores can live for several decades. The only way to kill them is to heat them at a temperature of 120 degrees for 30 minutes.
Food hazard
What is botulism and why it is dangerous - it is very important to know, since many do not even know what complications the course of the disease and its untimely treatment can lead to. It is important to determine the likely risk of poisoning in time. Most often, food poisoning occurs when consuming canned mushrooms, which were prepared without sufficient heat treatment.
The botulism stick is very stable and can withstand boiling for an hour. In order for the spores to completely collapse, an autoclave is required. To avoid the growth of bacteria, food storage should be carried out at a low temperature, as it can prevent their growth.
How and why does poisoning occur?
The most dangerous factors for the transmission of botulism to humans are the consumption of food products that have not undergone sufficient heat treatment. The most common infection can be found in foods such as:
- pickled vegetables;
- vegetable caviar;
- canned jam or jams;
- canned meat;
- salted, dried fish.
Some scientists believe that the infection can even be found in honey, however, this is not at all proven. Canned products with the addition of vinegar are least likely to become infected with the botulism bacteria.
The main types of botulism
Before starting treatment, it is very important to know:
- what is botulism;
- causes;
- signs;
- preventive measures;
- types of disease.
Depending on the method of infection, there are several different forms of the course of the disease, each of them has its own specific features. In particular, there are such types:
- food;
- wound;
- respiratory;
- vague.
The food type of botulism is characterized by the fact that bacteria accumulate in food. Moreover, dangerous products become already when toxins appear in them - waste products of botulism bacteria.
Wound botulism occurs everywhere, even in the environment. Under favorable conditions, the bacterium is activated. In itself, it is completely not dangerous, however, disputes arising in the process of its activity are especially harmful in themselves. If a bacterium enters an open wound, then a person becomes infected through it, and not by eating food. At risk are often addicts.
Respiratory botulism is less common. They can be infected only with a biological attack during a terrorist attack or a special spread of toxins from aerosols.
An indefinite type is characterized by the fact that doctors cannot pinpoint the source of infection.
Symptoms of the disease
If you feel worse, it is important to know what botulism is. Symptoms and a photo of the disease will help determine the presence of infection in the body. Timely seeking medical help will help get rid of it.
The symptomatology of the disease varies significantly at the initial stage and largely depends on the type of disease. The first signs are quite short-term and look like intoxication. Among the main symptoms can be distinguished such as:
- acute abdominal pain;
- diarrhea;
- vomiting
- prostration;
- fever.
All these signs disappear by the end of the first day, and then subside, however, this does not mean at all that the disease has passed. When the first signs appear, it is important to immediately call an ambulance so as not to provoke complications. In addition, there may be other signs of the disease, in particular such as:
- severe dry mouth;
- temperature rise;
- visual impairment;
- respiratory failure;
- cyanosis of the skin;
- dyspnea.
These are the very first signs of the disease, which can manifest themselves to a certain extent and in different combinations. They help to timely detect the presence of the disease.
Diagnostics
It is important to know not only what botulism is and how dangerous it is, but also how the diagnosis is carried out so that the disease can be determined at the initial stage. During the examination, the doctor specifies which canned foods a person consumed. In addition, it is important to take into account the presence of characteristic signs of the disease.
Laboratory diagnostics is of great importance, since the presence of
botulinum toxin in the biological materials of the patient is determined. A specific reaction is used to determine the type of toxic substance. This is a rather long-term diagnosis, which is why, when the first signs of the disease appear, immediate treatment is required.
Emergency care for botulism
Many are interested in what botulism is. A photo of the manifestations of the disease clearly shows what exactly this disease is characterized by: sharp pains in the abdomen, vomiting, loss of strength. When the first signs of the disease are manifested, first aid to the patient must be provided.
If signs of botulism appear after eating mushrooms or canned vegetables, you should immediately call an ambulance, as the symptoms of the disease increase very quickly and lead to a sharp deterioration in well-being. There is a risk of death of the patient, especially in the first day of the course of the disease. It is necessary to know the danger of the botulism wand in order to provide timely assistance to the patient. It is important to quickly remove the toxin from the body, as well as eliminate the main signs of intoxication.
If the patient has botulism, recovery comes slowly, even if treatment was started in a timely manner. Some individual signs of botulism can persist for a long time, for several months.
Botulism treatment
If this disease was diagnosed in the family, then naturally, I want to know whether the botulism patient is dangerous for others. It is worth noting that this disease is not transmitted from person to person, infection occurs only when eating contaminated food. That is why the question of whether a patient with botulism is dangerous, we can unequivocally answer that no.
The patient must necessarily undergo comprehensive treatment, since the toxin is dangerous to human life. It is aimed at removing botulinum toxin from the body, as well as maintaining vital functions. If a person has a disease in a complex form, then his vital activity is supported by an artificial respiration apparatus and stimulation of the heart. The patient is in the intensive care unit at this time.
The main treatment is aimed at neutralizing toxins with the help of special serum. Additionally, antibiotic treatment is carried out, as toxins can remain in the stomach and intestines for some time. Detoxification therapy is also carried out.
Botulism in infants
It is worth knowing not only what botulism is and why it is dangerous, but also what rare forms of the disease exist. Among them, botulism of infants is distinguished. This disease often develops in children from the first months of life. This leads to a feature of the gastrointestinal tract, which creates favorable conditions for the development of toxins.
One of the causes of the disease can be artificial feeding. An important point is the preparation of food in appropriate sanitary conditions. When an infection enters the body, symptoms such as:
- lethargy and weakness;
- visual impairment;
- wheezing and crying.
If the first signs of the disease occur, you must definitely seek specialized medical help. It is absolutely necessary to carry out comprehensive competent treatment, since botulism in infants can cause the death of a child.
Complications of botulism
What is botulism and its consequences - worries a lot of people, since it is a complex disease that can provoke various kinds of complications. Most often, the latter arise from the respiratory system. Due to the fact that the functions of eating food and water are violated, various inflammatory processes can occur.
In some cases, the development of inflammation of the parotid glands is possible. Damage to the muscular system, including the calf muscles, is observed quite often. Complications occur after 2-3 weeks of botulism. As a result, acute respiratory failure may occur, impaired functioning of the nervous system, as well as visual impairment.
Prognosis after treatment
Is botulism patient dangerous for others, and what is the prognosis after treatment. The prognosis for the course of this disease is quite difficult, but correctly carried out, timely treatment can save the lives of patients. Recovery takes place rather slowly and lasts for several months. This is due to the fact that the affected organs are restored with difficulty.
Prophylaxis
To reduce the risk of death, it is necessary to conduct competent comprehensive prevention of botulism. Before consuming canned and pickled home and industrial marinades, their appearance must be evaluated. If the cover is swollen or damaged, the product must be disposed of. To prevent the risk of botulism, the products must be heated for 30 minutes before canning.
When consuming botulism-infected products, the introduction of anti- botulinum serum is mandatory . Potential patients require observation for several weeks in order to be able to determine the presence of the disease in a timely manner. In addition, it is imperative to carry out prophylaxis, which provides for the observance of the following points:
- it is not recommended to purchase canned home-made;
- Do not cook canned food yourself from mushrooms, fish and meat;
- cans and lids must be thoroughly cooked before use.
Be sure to follow the rules for processing products before canning, and do not use damaged fruits and vegetables. It is important to store homemade canned food at a low temperature. Prevention of botulism will prevent the occurrence of the disease.
The use of botulinum toxin in medicine
The paralyzing qualities of botulinum toxin are widely used in medicine. Injections using this drug can eliminate even the most severe muscle cramps, excessive sweating, and alleviate muscle cramps during a stroke. This toxin is widely used in plastic surgery, as it helps to increase muscle plasticity and adjust the shape of the face. It is very important that this tool is used exclusively by professional doctors.