Infant botulism

Infant botulism is a rare illness caused by thebaby ingesting spores of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. These spores can grow in a baby’s intestines and produce a toxin that affects nerve function. This toxin can lead to muscle weakness, poor feeding, constipation, and sometimes difficulty breathing. Usually, this occurs between 2 to 6 months of age when the immune system is still developing. The source of the spores is often environmental, such as dust or contaminated foods like honey. Treatment involves hospitalization and administration of antitoxin to neutralize the toxin, with most infants recovering fully.