infections
Infant Botulism
Introduction
Infant botulism is a potentially life-threatening infection that causes muscle weakness. It develops in infants who eat food containing spores ofClostridium botulinumbacteria. (See also Overview of Clostridial Infections and do not require oxygen to live. That is, they are Overview of Anaerobic Bacteria . Clostridia bacteria produce spores. Spores are an inactive (dormant) form of the bacteria. Spores enable bacteria to survive when environmental conditions are difficult. When conditions are favorable, spores grow into bacteria. Clostridia spores grow when they have moisture and nutrients and there is no oxygen, which is what conditions are like in the intestine. Thus, if infants consume food containing clostridia spores, the spores grow into bacteria in the intestine and start producing toxins. Infant botulism occurs most commonly among infants younger than 6 months of age and can occur up to about 12 months of age. In children 12 months of age and older and in adults, this form of botulism, in which toxin is produced from spores in the intestine, is called adult intestinal toxemia botulism. The source of the spores in most cases of infant botulism is usually unknown, but some cases have been linked to the ingestion of honey, which may contain spores. Thus, doctors recommend that children under 12 months old should not be fed honey. Children under 12 months old should not be fed honey because it may contain spores ofClostridium botulinumbacteria. 