Outbreak of Botulism Type E Associated with Eating Traditional Soup in a Family Group, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Tehran, Iran

authors:

avatar Parviz Vahdani 1 , avatar Davood Yadegarinia 1 , avatar Zohreh Aminzadeh 1 , avatar Mahmood Zare Dehabadi 1 , avatar Owrang Eilami 1

Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran
Warning: No corresponding author defined!

How To Cite Vahdani P, Yadegarinia D, Aminzadeh Z, Zare Dehabadi M, Eilami O. Outbreak of Botulism Type E Associated with Eating Traditional Soup in a Family Group, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Arch Clin Infect Dis. 2006;1(1): 43-6. 

Abstract

Background:

Botulism is a neuroparalytic illness caused by clostridium botulinium toxin that is usually transmitted as a foodborne disease. It is manifested by cranial nerve dysfunction and descending flaccid muscle paralysis.

Patients:

Eleven members of a family developed severe weakness, lethargy and other clinical manifestations compatible with botulism following the ingestion of traditional soup. Stool, gastric fluid and serum samples were submitted for toxicological evaluation with standard mouse bioassay, while, only one patient demonstrated type E toxin. All patients received 3 monovalent antitoxins A, B and E, whilst most of their symptoms improved within 12 hours.

Conclusion:

This study confirmed that prompt administration of antitoxin could prevent progression of the disease and may be a life-saving approach.

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