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Botulism

Última revisión: 21 Jul 2025
Última actualización: 15 Apr 2025

Resumen

Definición

Anamnesis y examen

Principales factores de diagnóstico

  • ingestion of contaminated foods
  • infant age group
  • biologic terrorism
  • blurred vision and diplopia
  • impaired accommodation
  • ptosis
  • oculobulbar weakness
  • hypoglossal weakness
  • dysarthria
  • dysphagia
  • symmetrical descending flaccid paralysis
Todos los datos

Otros factores de diagnóstico

  • hypotonia
  • weakened cry in infants
  • feeding difficulties in infants
  • postural hypotension
  • hypothermia
  • urinary retention
  • constipation
  • dry mouth and throat
  • gastrointestinal illness
  • diminished or absent deep tendon reflexes
  • absence of fever
  • respiratory dysfunction
  • pupillary dilation
Todos los datos

Factores de riesgo

  • ingestion of contaminated foods
  • ingestion of honey in infants
  • ingestion of soil in infants
  • intravenous drug use
  • crush injury
  • infant age group
  • abnormal bowel anatomy
  • therapeutic or cosmetic use of botulinum toxin
  • biologic terrorism
  • exposure to reptiles
Todos los datos

Pruebas diagnósticas

Primeras pruebas diagnósticas para solicitar

  • mouse bioassay of serum, gastric secretions, stool, or food samples
  • culture of food samples, gastric aspirates, or fecal material
Todos los datos

Pruebas diagnósticas que deben considerarse

  • electrophysiologic testing
Todos los datos

Pruebas emergentes

  • enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
  • polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Algoritmo de tratamiento

Agudo

foodborne botulism

wound botulism

iatrogenic botulism

inhalational botulism (biological attack)

Colaboradores

Autores

Linda S. Nield, MD, FAAP
Linda S. Nield

Professor of Pediatrics and Medical Education

West Virginia University School of Medicine

Morgantown

WV

Divulgaciones

LSN is an author of a reference cited in this topic.

Agradecimientos

Dr Linda S. Nield would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Thomas P. Bleck, Dr Aimee Hodowanec, Dr Pavani Reddy, and Dr Teresa Zembower, previous contributors to this topic.

Divulgaciones

TPB, AH, PR, and TZ declare that they have no competing interests.

Revisores por pares

Fiona Cooke, MA, PhD, MSc, FRCPath, MRCP, DTM&H

Research Fellow and Medical Microbiologist

Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute

Department of Microbiology

Addenbrooke's Hospital

Cambridge

UK

Divulgaciones

FC declares that she has no competing interests.

Christopher D. Huston, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine

Division of Infectious Diseases

University of Vermont College of Medicine

Burlington

VT

Divulgaciones

CDH declares that he has no competing interests.

William A. Petri, Jr, MD, PhD, FACP

Chief and Professor of Medicine

Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health

University of Virginia Health System

Charlottesville

VA

Divulgaciones

WAP declares that he has no competing interests.

Referencias

Nuestros equipos internos de evidencia y editoriales colaboran con colaboradores expertos internacionales y revisores pares para garantizar que brindemos acceso a la información más clínicamente relevante posible.

Artículos principales

Rao AK, Sobel J, Chatham-Stephens K, et al. Clinical Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Botulism, 2021. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021 May 7;70(2):1-30.Texto completo  Resumen

Arnon SS, Schechter R, Inglesby TV, et al. Botulinum toxin as a biological weapon: medical and public health management. JAMA. 2001 Feb 28;285(8):1059-70. Resumen

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Investigational heptavalent botulinum antitoxin (HBAT) to replace licensed botulinum antitoxin AB and investigational botulinum antitoxin E. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2010 Mar 19;59(10):299.Texto completo  Resumen

Arnon SS, Schechter R, Maslanka SE, et al. Human botulism immune globulin for the treatment of infant botulism. N Engl J Med. 2006 Feb 2;354(5):462-71.Texto completo  Resumen

Artículos de referencia

Una lista completa de las fuentes a las que se hace referencia en este tema está disponible para los usuarios con acceso a todo BMJ Best Practice.
  • Botulism images
  • Diagnósticos diferenciais

    • Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS)
    • Myasthenia gravis
    • Tick paralysis (Dermacentor)
    Más Diagnósticos diferenciais
  • Diretrizes

    • Clinical guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of botulism, 2021
    • Botulism - guide for healthcare professionals
    Más Diretrizes
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