Botulism

Botulism is caused by a nerve toxin (Botulism toxin) that is produced by the bacterium //Clostridium botulism//. //Clostridium botulism// is a group of bacteria that are commonly found in soil and marine sediments around the world. These organisms grow best in low-oxygen conditions. The bacteria form spores which helps them survive in a passive state until they're in a condition where they can grow. The bacteria and spores are completely harmless, but the toxin that they produced when they grow is highly toxic. These bacterias can produce up to 7 types of botulism toxin, identified by the letters A - G. But only types A, B, E and F can cause Botulism in the human body.
 * What is the cause of this disease?**

Botulism is not contagious. There are 4 ways that Botulism can be transmitted**:** 1. **Food-borne Botulism** - When humans eat improperly canned or perserved foods that contains the botulism toxin. 2. **Wound Botulism** - When a wound is infected with bacteria, and then the bacteria produces the toxin. Which can be spread around the body. 3. **Infant Botulism** - When babies comes into contact with botulism through eating contaminated food. The bacteria inside the contaminated food will grow inside the babies' small intestines and produce the botulism toxin. Which can spread around the body. 4. **Inhalation Botulism** - When the pure form of the toxin is breathed through air and into the lungs.
 * How can it be transmitted?**

The symptoms of Botulism are: The symptoms of Botulism usually starts after 18-36 hours after consume the contaminated food, but there's a chance that the symptoms might appear early (6 hours) or late (10 days). Botulism is one of the most deadly diseases known. 1 kilogram of Botulism neurotoxin can be life-threatening to a person, but scientists estimated that about 1 gram of Botulism neurotoxin could potentially kill 1 million people.
 * What are the symptoms of Botulism? Is Botulism deadly?**
 * Double vision
 * Blurred vision
 * Drooping eyelids
 * Slurred speech
 * Difficulty swallowing
 * Dry mouth
 * Muscle weakness

Botulism can be cured by an antidote called "Botulism Antitoxin". Botulism Antitoxin binds any Botulism toxin inside the paient's body. By binding the toxin, it deactivates it at the same time, which prevents it from affecting the patient's body.
 * Can Botulism be cured? If so, how? If not, is there any way that we can at least treat it?**

__Bibliography:__
Emergency Preparedness. (n.d.). //BOTULISM//. Retrieved August 20, 2011. http://www.idph.state.il.us/Bioterrorism/factsheets/botulism.htm

Arthur Schoenstadt. (August 25, 2006). //Causes of Botulism.// Retrieved August 20, 2011. http://diseases.emedtv.com/botulism/causes-of-botulism.html

MedicineNet. (n.d.). //Botulism.// Retrieved August 19, 2011. http://www.medicinenet.com/botulism/article.htm

Joseph Pritchard. (April 21, 2010). //Cures For The Disease Called Botulism.// Retrieved August 20, 2011. http://www.livestrong.com/article/109883-cures-disease-called-botulism/


 * Written by Sze Pak Ng from 9.4**