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AAEE case report #16: Botulism
Author(s) -
Pickett Jackson B.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.880111203
Subject(s) - botulism , weakness , apnea , medicine , anesthesia , muscle weakness , stimulation , compound muscle action potential , neuroscience , physical medicine and rehabilitation , anatomy , psychology , electrophysiology , biology , genetics
Botulinal toxin causes a marked reduction in the number of quanta released by autonomic and motor nerve terminals. As a result it causes blurred vision, inability to move the eyes, weakness of other cranial nerve‐innervated muscles, dyspnea progressing to apnea, and generalized weakness. Electrodiagnostic findings in severe botulism can be relatively nonspecific, with low amplitude and short duration motor unit action potentials and small M wave amplitudes. A modest increment in M wave amplitude with rapid repetitive nerve stimulation may help to localize the disorder to the neuromuscular junction. Identification of the toxin in the patient's serum is diagnostic. The treatment of botulism is mainly supportive.