Even several years after acute illness, patients who had had botulism were more likely than control subjects to experience fatigue, generalized weakness, dizziness, dry mouth, difficulty lifting things, and difficulty breathing caused by moderate exertion.
Does botulism cause permanent damage?
Botulism is caused by a toxin that attacks the body's nerves and causes difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and even death. Doctors treat botulism with a drug called an antitoxin, which prevents the toxin from causing any more harm. Antitoxin does not heal the damage the toxin has already done.
What damage does botulism do to the body?
Symptoms of botulism usually start with weakness of the muscles that control the eyes, face, mouth, and throat. This weakness may spread to the neck, arms, torso, and legs. Botulism also can weaken the muscles involved in breathing, which can lead to difficulty breathing and even death.
What are the long-term effects of botulinum toxin?
Conclusion: Botulinum toxin causes dose-dependent long-term neuromuscular changes. The loss of tension generating capacity is almost exclusively related to muscle atrophy, because the specific tension did not change.
Can you fully recover from botulism?
Many people recover fully, but it may take months and extended rehabilitation therapy. A different type of antitoxin, known as botulism immune globulin, is used to treat infants.
More useful articles on a similar topic 👇
How long does it take for botulism to cause paralysis?Does botulism cause muscle paralysis?
