Botulism: symptoms, first aid, prevention

Botulism is a terrible, sometimes fatal disease that causes an anaerobic rod called Clostridium botulinum, which constantly lives in the soil. There it comes from the intestines of animals. Disputes can be stored for years in the soil, and if they get into the airless medium rich in protein, they grow into a vegetative form that emits the most toxic exotoxin that causes botulism. Its causative agent does not die under the action of gastric juice, does not die even with five-hour boiling. Only half an hour at a temperature of at least 120 ° can kill botulinum toxin.

When eating canned food, dried fish, meat products cooked with a technology violation, it is more likely to get not just severe poisoning, but botulism. Symptoms of it, constantly and rapidly changing, indicate the extremely rapid development of the disease.

Usually from the moment of infection to the appearance of the very first symptoms of botulism passes from one hour to (rarely) two days.

Are there any specific signs by which botulism can be determined? Symptoms can be divided into three groups: general toxic, gastrointestinal, paralytic.

First, the patients develop progressive general weakness, a slight but increasing headache. The temperature rises not much - up to 37.3 ° -37.5 °. Diarrhea or vomiting rarely accompany botulism, the symptoms appear more like very strong constipation that does not lend itself to enema.

Somewhat later, dryness about the mouth grows, speech becomes vague, the voice weakens or disappears. Already at this stage you can suspect a serious diagnosis and urgently call a doctor.

If the treatment is not started, the patient begins to double and ripple in the eyes. Sometimes the pupils completely stop responding to light. The upper eyelid is lowered on one eye, the pupils dilate and change their shape. Often there is a pronounced strabismus.

If medical care is not available, then there is a breakdown of swallowing, first an embarrassment, and then a stop of breathing due to paralysis. The patient can die.

If the doctor suspected that the diagnosis is botulism, the symptoms confirm this, then the patient is immediately hospitalized. Without the introduction of a special serum, life can not be saved.

Nevertheless, having suspected that the body has got disputes of botulinum toxin, before the ambulance arrives you can try to provide first aid:

• The affected person should be given a 5% solution of baking soda (if swallowing disorder has not yet occurred) to induce vomiting;
• Make an abundant cleansing enema;
• Give a little peach or any vegetable oil to drink, to bind up sprouts that have not yet germinated;
• If pressure has sharply dropped, you can intramuscularly inject one ampoule of caffeine;
• To relieve panic syndrome, give a mild sedative (not a sleeping pill!).

Can botulism be prevented? Prevention measures are very simple:

• Never buy products from people who have not received permission to trade products;
• Never eat fish, meat, other products with signs of spoilage, canned food with bloated or rusty lids;
• Meat and fish canned food from metal cans immediately after opening is recommended to be transferred to glass or porcelain containers;
• Meat raw to store only in the freezer, ready - in the dishes, tightly covered with a lid. Unripe meat is not recommended to be stored for more than 2 hours: it is an excellent medium for the development of botulinum pathogen;
• Regularly wash kitchen tables, cutting boards, other kitchen tools with disinfectants;
• When producing canned goods, show increased attention and accuracy;
• Do not keep the food on a small or low heat for a very long time.

If a person has got dizziness, weakness, a "mesh" or fog before his eyes after a meal, immediately call an ambulance, and do not start amateur treatment.