Infant botulism.
Infant botulism is a rare disease that affects infant less than 12 months of age. The illness results from absorption of botulinum toxin produced in situ by neurotoxigenic clostridia that can temporarily colonize the intestinal tract of infants. To date, all inhabited continents except Africa have reported cases of infant botulism. Recognition of cases seem directly related to physician awareness and clinical suspicion. This review summarizes microbiological, clinical and epidemiological features of infant botulism.
Fenicia
Lucia
L
Centro Nazionale di Riferimento per il Botulismo, Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria e Sicurezza Alimentare, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy. lucia.fenicia@iss.it
Anniballi
Fabrizio
F
D001906:Botulism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003013:Clostridium; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D013171:Spores, Bacterial