Three cases of foodborne botulism primarily presenting with neurological manifestations

VernacularTitle:以神经系统症状为主要表现的食源性肉毒中毒3例报道
Author: Huili YANG ¹ ; Ruile SHEN ¹ ; Yongjie BAI ¹ ; Yahan SONG ¹ ; Hui LI ¹ ; Yingfan BAO ¹
Author Information

1. 河南科技大学第一附属医院神经内科，洛阳471000
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Food poisoning; Botulism; Nervous system
From: Chinese Journal of General Practitioners 2025;24(12):1545-1548
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: This report summarized and analyzed the clinical data of 3 patients with food-borne botulism admitted to our department. One case was sporadic, while the other two involved family members living together. All patients initially presented with blurred vision, ptosis, and dysphagia, and the disease progressed rapidly. During the course of the disease, all three cases developed respiratory failure; one patient received non-invasive ventilatory support, whereas the other two required invasive ventilator assisted ventilation. The serum toxin tests of the 3 patients were all positive for botulinum toxin type A. Sporadic food-borne botulism shares similar early symptoms and signs to myasthenia gravis and Guillain-Barre syndrome, and requires careful differential diagnosis. Botulinum antitoxin serum is the only effective treatment, and empirical antitoxin administration can be initiated immediately upon suspicion of botulism. Early detection and timely specific treatment are critical for improving patient outcomes.