In the United States, approximately 70 to 90 cases of infant botulism are reported every year. Close attention is paid to proper nutrition and pulmonary aid. Approximately one in four infants affected requires mechanical ventilation. Neither antibiotics nor antitoxin are usually administered. A complete recovery is made in nearly every case.
Honey is the only food implicated in infant botulism.
Since it is not essential for the nutrition of infants, parents and caregivers are reminded not to feed honey to infants less than one year of age. Honey should never be added to baby food or used on a soother to quiet a fussy or colicky baby. Concerned parents should discuss alternative methods for quieting their baby with their pediatrician or family doctor. The Botulism Reference Service for Canada receives clinical and food samples to analyze for C. botulinum and botulinum neurotoxin. The Botulism Reference Service also assists in the investigation of suspected outbreaks of botulism and maintains a supply of antitoxin.