A Survey on the Clinical Presentations in Food-borne Botulism for Patients Refering to Razi Hospital During 2001-06

Background: Botulism is caused by a neurotoxin produced from the anaerobic, sporeforming Bacterium clostridium. Food-borne botulism is one of the dangerous forms offood poisoning in the world. The purpose of this study was to survey some clinicalpresentations and laboratory findings in patients suspected with botulism toxicity thathad received anti-botulism.Methods: This descriptive-retrospective study was done on food-borne botulismpoisoning cases admitted to the emergency ward and received anti-botulism at RaziHospital of Rasht (north of Iran) during 2001-6. Completion of the questionnaire whichincluded such variables as gender, age, clinical presentations, and laboratory data wasbased on the information available on the patients.Results: Of the 31 patients that had taken anti botulism, 20 cases (64.5%) were male.Subjects were in age range of 19-55 and the mean of age was 34.5 years. Conservedfoods (38.7%), salted caviar (32.3%), and fish (16.3%) were the main causes ofbotulism, respectively. The most common clinical symptom was vomiting (77.4%) andthe most common neurological presentations were visual abnormalities (48.4%).Azotemia, leukocytosis, and leukopenia were seen in 3 cases (9.7%), in 2 cases(6.5%), and in 4 cases (12.9%), respectively.Conclusion: Marine products (salted caviar and fish) have an important role in theincidence of botulism in Guilan. Botulism is seen in males more than females and itsmost common clinical manifestation is vomiting.