[Simultaneous botulism in two brothers addicted to cocaine].
BACKGROUND
Botulism is currently an uncommon disease in which the botulinum toxin causes a progressive muscular paralysis that can lead to the death due to a failure of respiratory muscles.


METHODS
Two brothers, both addicted to cocaine, came to the casualty department because of a decrease of near visual acuity and bilateral mydriasis. Two days later, they developed eyelid ptosis, asymmetric dysfunction of the extraocular muscles and vomiting.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of a paralysis of accommodation, with bilateral mydriasis that reacts to pilocarpine, makes it necessary to consider botulism as a possible cause.
Aguirre-Balsalobre
F
F
Hospital Universitario San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain. faguir88@hotmail.com
González-Herrera
M
M
Mengual-Verdú
E
E
García-Conca
V
V
Hueso-Abancens
J R
JR
D000328:Adult; D001906:Botulism / Q000209:etiology*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015878:Mydriasis / Q000209:etiology*