What is botulism and how to treat it
Educational Program Health / / December 19, 2019
I was 14 when my father and I found botulism. Classic case: from dried river fish bought at the nearest market. We ate it for dinner, and at night the pope in a semiconscious state took away an ambulance.
In the waiting room we put the poison, then a stroke, and only a miracle run past rolling neurologist, noting the lack of reflexes newcomer, became suspicious. Thanks to his dad saved, even though it turned out three weeks in intensive care: sometimes - on the unit ventilator, sometimes - without consciousness. Then my father went again to breathe, sit, walk.
"Botulism is greased symptoms" - later the doctors said. That is why it is often too late to determine when a person is no longer help.
My young body to cope better. Symptoms appeared only on the second day, in the morning. I woke up, opened my eyes and saw around the fog.
By the time my mother and I re-read all the medical encyclopedia, which have reached before. And I understand what it means. She has collected a bag, called an ambulance. The really bad I was already in the car. Fortunately, a short while - only for five days without resuscitation. I was lucky.
But luck is not all smiles. Therefore, it is important to understand when to call an ambulance. It could save your life.
What is botulism
BotulismBotulism - this type of poisoning waste products of bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Microbes living in the soil and in the intestines of many animals and fish - usually the bottom in contact with sand and silt. In this state botulinomikroby conventionally harmless. Dangerous they become, once in the environment with low oxygen content.
In the absence of oxygen the bacteria actively proliferate and produce toxins - one of the most powerful poisons known to manBotulism.
Botulinum toxin block the work of the nervous system and cause paralysis of the muscles throughout the body, including those that provide breathing and heartbeat.
Where does botulism
ExistsBotulism Three main ways of infection botulinobakteriyami organism.
1. With food
Bacterial spores may be in canned products, if they are prepared or stored under oxygen deficiency. As dangerous products, which were originally poorly cleaned and poorly thermally processed. it often:
- meat stew;
- canned mushrooms, fruits, vegetables (especially green beans, spinach, beets), seasonings;
- stewed potatoes in foil;
- ham, sausage;
- dried, smoked, dried river fish;
- ready-to-eat foods in packages with low oxygen content.
Once in the intestines, Clostridium botulinum bacteria begin to actively produce poison.
2. through wounds
Sometimes the bacteria enter the body through tiny skin damage. Then Manufactured microbial toxin spreads along with the blood flow throughout the body. Wound botulism is often fixed in people who use heroin. The drug may contain spores of harmful bacteria.
3. From mother to baby
Infant botulism - a disease of the first year of life. If the mother has eaten the product with Clostridium botulinum, dangerous germs can enter the body along with the baby's milk. Sometimes the infection cases occur through honey or corn syrup, which lubricate Baby pacifier.
What are the symptoms of botulism
The disease develops rapidly, so that the first symptoms and can be skipped. As a rule, signs of poisoning appear within 12-36 hours after eating contaminated food. However, depending on the number of bacteria can develop in the period from 4 hours to 8 days.
Initially, the symptoms are blurred, but there is one characteristic.
If eyesight has deteriorated sharply - double vision, the world seems to be drowned in the fog - and at the same time recently you ate canned goods or dried fish, immediately call an ambulance.
Changes in vision - one of the first signs of botulism. He is accompanied by or later joined by others:
- dizziness;
- severe muscle weakness;
- dry mouth;
- trouble swallowing;
- feeling of air deficiency, shortness of breath;
- deterioration of speech - it becomes indistinct;
- insignificant (! Not to fever) rise in temperature;
- drooping eyelids - both or one;
- nausea, vomiting;
- diarrhea or constipation, bloating.
What to do if you suspect botulism
Immediately call an ambulance. The most dangerous complication of botulism - stop breathing and heart function. The disease develops is unpredictable, and at what point the patient will stop, for example breathe, can not be foreseen. Therefore, all people with suspected botulism necessarily admitted to hospital.
Note: the earlier treatment starts, the better the chances to do without complications, and survival in general.
If you just before the onset of symptoms ate canned food or other potentially dangerous products, be sure to tell doctors.
The correct diagnosis can be difficultBotulism: A diagnostic challengeBecause the symptoms of botulism are similar to symptoms of other diseases - stroke, Myasthenia gravis, Guillain-Barre syndrome. Therefore, the information about what you eat, it can be critical.
If doctors remain suspicious, they appoint a number of analyzes. Among them are:
- Laboratory tests. We are talking about blood, urine, feces, vomit, gastric lavage to identify them botulinum toxin.
- Electromyography. This study conduction of nerve fibers in the muscle tissue, to see how they hit the paralysis.
- Study of cerebrospinal fluid.
- brain scan.
How to treat botulism
Only in a hospital - home treatment is extremely dangerous. That's what doctors do. All activities are carried out quickly, even at the same time as possible.
1. restore breathing
If necessary, an infected machine is connected to the ventilator.
2. It purifies the body of toxins
In the case of food poisoning a sick stomach was washed and do an enema. When it comes to wound botulism, the surgeon may excise the wound together with the surrounding tissue.
3. Administered antitoxic serum
It binds to a toxin that is already circulating in the blood and accumulated in the nerve tissue, and does not allow him to continue to damage the nerves.
The bad news has already caused to eliminate the poison damage whey can not. If he is great, man can not be saved.
The good news: the nerves regenerate. Many people recover completely, but it may take months of rehabilitation therapy - will have to relearn how to speak, swallow, breathe, walk.
4. Wound botulism When prescribed antibiotics
But it is important to consider that in other types of disease antibiotics absolutely contraindicated. They can speed up the release of bacterial toxin.
How not to get botulism
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendsPrevention observe the following safety rules.
1. Be careful with food
- Check the shelf life of canned food purchased. Do not eat them if the bank was swollen.
- If you do can fruit, vegetables, meat, fish home, carefully wash them and sterilize the jars.
- Do not eat a dried, smoked, salted fish, if there is confirmation of the quality of its processing.
- Avoid homemade sausages and smoked products from your diet, if you are not sure that they are properly cooked.
2. Do not give honey babies under 12 months
For children from one year and older this product is safe.
3. Rinse the wound received immediately after their occurrence
It is best to do it with soap and water. Be careful.
see also🤢💉💊
- How to prevent Lyme disease ruin your life
- 10 dangerous plants, which are no better approach
- What to do if bitten by a snake
- What should I do if food poisoning
- What to do with the bite of wasp, bee, hornet or bumblebee