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Children under the age of twelve months are at risk of infant botulism if they are fed honey or anything with honey in it. Botulism spores can be found in honey; when swallowed, the spores release a toxin. Infants' systems are too immature to prevent this toxin from developing.
Jul 27, 2012 · This case illustrates the importance of considering botulism toxicity when an infant present with acute floppy paralysis and taking history of honey ingestion as a cause for botulism toxicity. This manuscript fulfils the BMJ case reports criteria ‘myth exploded’; honey is thought to be having great medicinal value in Asian communities; this ...
- C O Abdulla, A Ayubi, F Zulfiquer, G Santhanam, M A S Ahmed, J Deeb
- 10.1136/bcr.11.2011.5153
- 2012
- BMJ Case Rep. 2012; 2012: bcr1120115153.
- Overview
- What’s botulism?
- What’s the connection between botulism and honey?
- Are there other sources of foodborne botulism?
- Who’s most at risk?
- What are the symptoms of botulism?
- How’s it treated?
- How can you prevent botulism contamination?
- The bottom line
Honey has been used as a food and medicine for thousands of years — and for good reason.
Not only does research suggest that it may help in managing various types of diseases, such as diabetes, but it has also been shown to have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Honey can also be a healthy and delicious addition to your diet. However, it’s a food source that can become contaminated with bacteria that cause botulism. Even though botulism is rare, it’s potentially fatal and requires immediate medical attention.
Keep reading to find out who’s at the highest risk of developing botulism from honey and how you can lower your chances of developing this serious illness.
Botulism is a rare but potentially fatal illness caused by a toxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. The illness targets your nervous system and can lead to paralysis and respiratory failure.
The most common way to get botulism is by consuming food contaminated with the bacteria. You can also get it by:
•breathing in spores
•coming into contact with contaminated soil
•through open wounds
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the bacteria Clostridium botulinum produces seven types of spores. But only four types can lead to botulism in humans, and one is very rare.
Honey is one of the most common sources of botulism. About 20 percent of botulism cases involve honey or corn syrup.
One 2018 study looked at 240 multifloral honey samples from Poland. The researchers found that 2.1 percent of the samples contained the bacteria responsible for producing the botulinum neurotoxin. The researchers also noted that their results are in line with results from other countries.
Infants and children under 12 months are at the highest risk of developing botulism from honey. This is because they don’t have the same defenses as older children to fight the spores in their digestive system.
The Mayo Clinic advises against giving honey to children under 12 months of age.
Improperly canned or fermented foods are among the most common sources of botulism. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following foods have been linked to botulism:
•canned asparagus
•canned green beans
•canned potatoes
•canned corn
•canned beets
About 90 percent of botulism cases occur in infants younger than 6 months old. Children under 12 months are also at a heightened risk of developing botulism.
Older children and adults have digestive systems that are better equipped to fight off the bacterial spores found in contaminated foods like honey.
The bacteria Clostridium botulinum can germinate in the digestive tract of children younger than 12 months old. Because of this, symptoms of botulism might not develop until 1 month after exposure.
According to the CDC, you may also be at an elevated risk of developing botulism if you:
•make and eat home-fermented or canned foods
•drink homemade alcohol
Symptoms usually appear around 12 to 36 hours after being exposed to the toxin.
In adults and older children, botulism causes weakness in the muscles around the eyes, mouth, and throat. Eventually, the weakness spreads to the neck, arms, trunk, and legs.
Signs that you may have botulism include:
•trouble speaking or swallowing
•dry mouth
•facial drooping and weakness
Botulism is potentially fatal and requires prompt medical attention. If your doctor suspects you’ve been contaminated with botulism, they’ll likely order a lab test to confirm the presence of the bacteria in your stool or blood.
Botulism is usually treated with a botulinum antitoxin drug to fight the illness. The drug prevents botulism from further damaging the nerves. Neuromuscular function will eventually regenerate once the toxin is flushed from your body.
If symptoms are severe, it may cause breathing failure. If this happens, mechanical ventilation may be needed, which could last for several months.
Modern medicine has helped to drastically increase the survival rate of botulism. Fifty years ago, about 50 percent of people died from botulism, according to the CDC. But today, it’s fatal in less than 5 percent of cases.
You can reduce your risk of developing botulism by following these food-safety habits from the CDC:
•Keep canned or pickled food refrigerated.
•Refrigerate all leftovers and prepared foods within 2 hours of cooking or 1 hour if the temperature is more than 90°F (32°C).
•Keep baked potatoes in foil above 150°F (66°C) until served.
•Avoid eating food from leaking, bulging, or swollen containers.
•Keep homemade oil containing garlic and herbs in the refrigerator for no more than 4 days.
Botulism is a rare but potentially fatal illness that affects your nervous system. Infants are at the highest risk of developing botulism.
Honey is a common cause of botulism in babies under 12 months old. Children under 1 year of age shouldn’t be given any type of honey due to the risk of botulism.
Infant botulism occurs mostly in babies younger than 6 months. It develops when C botulinum spores are eaten by a baby and the bacteria grow in his intestines, making toxins within the gut. The source of the spores is usually unclear. They may be present in soil or dust and then become airborne where they are breathed in and swallowed by the child.
Infants should not eat Honey Nut Cheerios, advises the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Honey and Infant Botulism. Honey sometimes contains botulism spores. Although these spores don't affect kids or adults, they can seriously hurt young babies.
- Lily Medina
Apr 27, 2023 · Infants who eat honey are at risk for contracting botulism. When the Clostridium botulinum spores enter the digestive tract but aren’t broken down, they can colonize a baby’s intestines...
Jul 17, 2023 · What Could Happen if a Baby Eats Honey Nut Cheerios? The primary concern of feeding a baby Honey Nut Cheerios lies in the potential presence of botulism spores in honey. These spores can cause a serious condition called infant botulism, a rare but potentially life-threatening illness. Signs of Botulism in Babies
