2023 Author: Anita Thornton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-22 03:30
Infant botulism is a rare disease that occurs in he althy children under one year of age. Only responsible in Canada: honey!
All about the prevention of this disease that particularly affects children.
A bacterium involved
Infant botulism is caused by Clostridium botulinum, a bacteria that produces poison in the intestine. This poison blocks the messages transmitted by the brain to the limbs that allow us to make movements. And it is particularly dangerous in children under the age of one, since their intestine does not provide a sufficiently acidic medium to counter the multiplication of the bacteria in the intestine.
Infected children show the following symptoms:
- too weak to nurse as usual;
- no stool;
- the neck muscles are too weak to support the head;
- arms and legs are weak;
- can't swallow.
When honey becomes venom…
Less than 5% of the honey produced in Canada contains the bacteria responsible for infant botulism. And in these cases, the amount found is too small to have an impact on adult he alth. However, children under the age of one are muchmore vulnerable to a small amount of bacteria.
And although in Canada the only food linked to infant botulism is honey, other foods such as corn syrup, fresh fruits and vegetables can also be contaminated with the bacteria.
To prevent infant botulism
- Do not give honey and corn syrup to your child before the age of 1;
- Wash and peel fruits and vegetables before offering them to your baby;
- Throw away the bulging cans. This may be a sign of bacterial contamination.
