Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Symptoms usually appear 8 - 36 hours after consuming contaminated food. There is NO fever with this infection.
In adults, symptoms may include:
- Abdominal cramps
-
Breathing difficulty that may lead to respiratory failure - Difficulty swallowing and speaking
Double vision - Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Temporary lack of breathing
- Vomiting
- Weakness with paralysis (equal on both sides of the body)
Symptoms in infants may include:
- Constipation
- Weakness, loss of muscle tone
- Weak cry
- Poor feeding and weak sucking
- Respiratory distress
- Alertness, despite weakness
Signs and tests
The doctor will perform a physical exam. There may be signs of:
- Absent or decreased deep tendon reflexes
- Absent or decreased gag reflex
Eyelid drooping - Muscle function/feeling loss
- Paralyzed bowel
- Speech impairment
- Urine retention with inability to urinate
Blood tests can be done to identify the toxin. A
Images
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Review Date: 08/28/2009
Reviewed By: Linda Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of
Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of
Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine,
Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of
Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General
Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director,
A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
