All articles tagged with #antitoxin
A 24-year-old Arizona wedding planner developed botulism after sampling a quarter-sized piece of fermented swordfish, leaving her paralyzed and briefly unable to breathe. She required hospitalization and a respirator, and began recovering after antitoxin treatment, while two friends who sampled the same dish were also affected; a fundraiser was launched to help cover medical costs.
A baby in England was left completely paralyzed after being diagnosed with botulism, a rare toxin found in dust, soil, and honey. Doctors at Birmingham Children’s Hospital identified the condition, which had only been reported 20 times in Britain, and rushed to obtain the human antitoxin from California, the only place in the world that produces it. The remedy traveled over 5,000 miles in under 48 hours and saved the baby's life. After receiving the treatment, the baby is now back home and recovering well, regaining most of his movement and thriving with his family.
Six cases of botulism have been reported in Vietnam, with one fatality. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stepped in to help supply antitoxin to treat botulinum poisoning. The Vietnam Ministry of Health will work on ways to ensure a supply of rare drugs and storage in stockpiling centers to be more proactive in such situations in the future. Symptoms of botulism include double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing or breathing, paralysis, a thick-feeling tongue, dry mouth, and muscle weakness.