Situation and vulnerability
Unprepared canned foods may be at issue. Both infant botulism and wound botulism have other mechanisms.
Signs and limits of their interpretation
Double vision, difficulty swallowing or speaking and weakness that can progress towards respiratory paralysis are warning signs. Do not wait until you confirm a contaminated food.
Diagnosis and monitoring
The team relies on neurological signs and exposure history. Specialized analyses should not delay an urgent therapeutic decision.
Check these benchmarks in the WHO reference →
Prevention and care
Do not taste suspicious food to check its safety. Do not give honey to a child under a year of age. The treatments are hospitalized.
Practical issues
Does a dangerous can have a bad smell?
No. The appearance, smell or taste do not make it possible to verify the absence of toxin. A tasting can itself expose.
Preparing for an exchange with a professional
- Foods consumed and people who shared the meal
- Time of the first neurological disorders
- Label and lot, without dangerously handling the product
Bring the full minutes and dates. This information facilitates evaluation; its collection must not delay an urgent appeal.
Image generated by artificial intelligence. AI illustration; it does not depict a disease, biological agent or diagnosis.
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Related fact sheets
These sheets share ways or contexts of exhibition in our catalogue. This reconciliation does not establish a differential diagnosis.
Compare Botulism with associated sheets →
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