EC Neurology

Botulism is a severe infectious disease caused by neurotoxins produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Its neurological symptoms are characterised by symmetrical descending muscle paralysis with ophthalmoplegia and coexisting autonomic dysfunc- tions. In severe cases, respiratory deficiency can be present. The final diagnosis is confirmed when the botulinum toxin is detected from the patient’s blood or other body fluids. The prompt identification of neurotoxin is crucial for the right treatment with antitoxin and significantly improves survival rate of the patients.

The numbers of botulism cases may vary between the countries and are related to eating habits and traditions. The most common is the foodborne disease but depending on the country and society structure, other types of botulism could be developed more often.

In this paper two clinical cases of patients with botulism are presented. There was no obvious history of possible intoxication in any of them. The author’s aim is to emphasize that botulism can mimic more common neurological diseases and should be always taken under consideration in suspicious cases of sudden muscle weakness.

Keywords: Botulism, Foodborne Disease, Anticholinergic Syndrome, Repetitive Nerve Stimulation, Antitoxin

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