National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Botulism
is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find
the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.
Synonyms
- None
Disorder Subdivisions
- Foodborne Botulism
- Wound Botulism
- Infant Botulism
General Discussion
Botulism is a neuromuscular (paralytic) disease caused by a bacterial toxin acting in the intestine (enterotoxin) and causing neuromuscular poisoning (resulting from Clostridium botulinum toxin). There are three generally recognized types; food-borne, wound, and infant. Foodborne botulism results when C. botulinum toxin, produced in contaminated food, is ingested or the spores are inhaled. Wound botulism is caused by C. botulinum toxin in wounds that are contaminated with this bacterium. The most common form of botulism in the United States, infant botulism, is caused by the ingestion or inhaling of C. botulinum spores and the subsequent production of botulinum toxin in the intestines of affected infants. (Parenthetically, botulinum toxin has become a therapeutic agent and orphan drug in its own right and is used in the treatment of certain dystonias and other disorders.)
Any case of botulism is considered to be a public health emergency because of the potential for toxin-containing foods to injure others who eat them and because of the potential misuse of botulinum toxin as a biological weapon. State and local public health officials by law much be informed immediately whenever botulism is suspected in a human patient.
Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30333
Tel: (404)639-3534
Tel: (800)311-3435
Email: http://www.cdc.gov/netinfo.htm
Internet: http://www.cdc.gov/
NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
6610 Rockledge Drive
MSC 6612
Bethesda, MD 20892-6612
Tel: (301)496-5717
Fax: (301)402-3573
TDD: (800)877-8339
Internet: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Inquiry & Consumer Information
Office of Inquiry and Consumer Information
5600 Fisher Lane
Room 12-A-40
Rockville, MD 20857
Tel: (301)827-4420
Tel: (888)463-6332
Internet: http://www.fda.gov/fdahomepage.html
Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program
850 Marina Bay Parkway
Room E361
Richmond, CA 94804
Tel: (510)231-7600
Email: ibtpp@infantbotulism.org
Internet: http://www.infantbotulism.org
For a Complete Report
This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html
The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.
It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org
Last Updated: 4/21/2008
Copyright 1986, 1989, 1990, 1998, 2001, 2004 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
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