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Infant botulism

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Definition:

Infant botulism is a potentially life-threatening disease in which the bacteria Clostridium botulinum grows within the baby's gastrointestinal tract.

See also: Botulism

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Clostridium botulinum is a spore-forming organism that is common in nature. The spores may be found in soil and certain foods (such as honey and some corn syrups).

This disease occurs mostly in young infants between 6 weeks and 6 months of age. Onsets as early as 6 days and as late as one year have been reported.

Risk factors include swallowing honey as a baby, being around contaminated soil, breast-feeding, and having less than one stool per day for a period greater than 2 months.

• Review Date: 8/18/2006
• Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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