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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

Because it affects muscle control throughout your body, botulinum toxin can cause many complications. The most immediate danger is that you won't be able to breathe, which is the most common cause of death in botulism. Other complications may include:

  • Difficulty speaking
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Long-lasting weakness
  • Shortness of breath
References
  1. Pegram PS, et al. Botulism. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 29, 2010.
  2. Botulism. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/botulism_gi.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2010.
  3. Botulism. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec14/ch178/ch178c.html. Accessed Feb. 3, 2010.
  4. Sobel J. Botulism. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2005;41:1167.
  5. Abrutyn E. Botulism. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2867436. Accessed Feb. 3, 2010.
  6. Follow-up to the February 8, 2008, early communication about an ongoing safety review of Botox and Botox Cosmetic (Botulinum toxin Type A) and Myobloc (Botulinum toxin Type B). U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/DrugSafetyInformationforHeathcareProfessionals/ucm143819.htm. Accessed Feb. 5, 2010.
DS00657 March 27, 2010

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