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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffFor cases of food-borne botulism, doctors sometimes clear out the digestive system by inducing vomiting and giving medications to induce bowel movements. If you have botulism in a wound, a doctor may need to remove infected tissue surgically.
Antitoxin
If you're diagnosed early with food-borne or wound botulism, injected antitoxin reduces the risk of complications. The antitoxin attaches itself to toxin that's still circulating in your bloodstream and keeps it from harming your nerves. The antitoxin cannot, however, reverse any damage that's already been done.
Antitoxin is not, however, recommended for cases of infant botulism, since it doesn't affect the disease-causing germs in the baby's digestive system. A treatment called botulism immune globulin is used to treat infants.
Breathing assistance
If you're having trouble breathing, you will probably need a mechanical ventilator. The ventilator forces air into your lungs through a tube inserted in your airway through your nose or mouth. You may remain on the ventilator for up to several weeks as the effects of the toxin gradually lessen.
Rehabilitation
As you recover, you may also need therapy to improve your speech, swallowing and other functions affected by the disease.
- Pegram PS, et al. Botulism. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 29, 2010.
- Botulism. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/botulism_gi.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2010.
- Botulism. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec14/ch178/ch178c.html. Accessed Feb. 3, 2010.
- Sobel J. Botulism. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2005;41:1167.
- 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.
- 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.
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