The spores may be found in dust, common foods such as honey, and elsewhere. The disease occurs mostly in young infants up through 4 months but has occurred up to 10 months. Theoretically, the disease might be avoided by preventing exposure to spores , but this is impractical. The first and most frequent symptom is constipation . Laboratory testing consists of culturing a stool sample to demonstrate the presence of botulinum toxin in the stool.
Treatment is supportive.
If respiratory distress develops, respiratory support is indicated. Antibiotics do not appear to increase the rate of improvement, and antitoxin has not been of demonstrated value. Full recovery is expected. The information provided herein should not be used for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.