The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is aware of 2 cases of suspected botulism in children in Scotland. These cases have not yet been confirmed microbiologically but the symptoms point towards it being botulism.
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As a precaution, Health Protection Scotland is advising parents to be aware of the symptoms of botulism, which include blurred vision, difficulty swallowing, headaches and muscle weakness.
Health professionals across the UK have been made aware of the suspected cases and advised to look out for people of all ages with possible symptoms.
Botulism is caused by a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum which attacks the nervous system. There is a botulinum antitoxin available which is very effective in treating botulism when it is used in the early stages of the infection and both children have received this.
Currently there is no indication as to the likely source of the infection but it can be food-borne. The infection is not passed from person to person and symptoms usually occur between 12 and 36 hours after eating contaminated food although symptoms can also appear in as little as six hours or take longer.
The HPA is working with the Scottish authorities and the Food Standards Agency on the investigation. Botulism is rare in the UK – there have only been 33 recorded cases of food-borne botulism in England and Wales since 1989, with 27 of these linked to a single outbreak.
Dr Kathie Grant, a botulinum toxin expert at the HPA, said: “Cases of botulism are thankfully very rare in the UK although it can be a very serious infection in those that are affected.
“We have been working to gather information on the foods that the cases had eaten together with details of where these were bought. Testing of these is currently underway and if a particular food is implicated then immediate action will be taken to remove it from retail outlets and alert the public.”
Updated 25-11-11
A third child from the same family in Forth Valley has been admitted to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow on the 16th November 2011 with suspected botulism. Further investigations are being carried out and the child is said to be stable.
The other two siblings who were admitted last week are stable and improving.
At this point in time the suspected source of infection for this new case remains the jar of Loyd Grossman korma sauce which was used by the family.
Further Information
There are three different types of botulism:
- Food-borne botulism – which is caused by eating food that has been contaminated with the botulinum toxin as a result of it being improperly canned or preserved.
- Would botulism – occurs when a wound becomes infected with botulinum spores which then germinate, reproduce and then produce toxins. This usually occurs when the tissue is damaged through injecting contaminated heroin or snorting contaminated cocaine.
- Infant botulism – is very rare but can occur if a baby swallows some botulinum bacteria spores, which then produce toxins in their intestines. Infant botulism usually only affects babies who are less than 12 months old. After this, children develop a defence against the spores.
