Recently, Children's Hospital 2 (Ho Chi Minh City) has received 3 cases of brothers in the same family, living in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, admitted to the hospital due to increasing lower limb weakness, respiratory failure. suspected botulinum toxin poisoning. According to the family, 3 children had previously eaten sausages of unknown origin, showing signs of spoilage. By the afternoon of the same day, the three children began to experience dizziness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and loose stools.
Doctor-CK1 Truong Thi Ngoc Phu, Children's Hospital 2, notes about botulinum poisoning symptoms including early signs such as fatigue, vomiting, loose stools while consciousness is still awake, no fever. When toxins penetrate more, it will cause blurred vision, dry mouth, signs of muscle paralysis such as drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing, difficulty speaking, more severe paralysis of the respiratory muscles leading to respiratory failure which can be fatal. if the patient is not treated promptly.
Do not use the product when detecting colored, strange-smelling foods
The antidote to BAT should be administered as soon as possible after poisoning is diagnosed to help improve mortality. However, this is a very rare drug, not always available, and the price is high. Therefore, supportive care is the mainstay of treatment in botulinum poisoning, especially in cases of severe respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation which can take weeks to months to recover.
Doctor Phu recommends that parents pay special attention to ensuring hygiene in processing fresh food, not using honey for children under 1 year old. For canned food, it is necessary to choose the type with clear origin, safe packaging, and expiry date.
When detecting food with strange colors and odors, it is necessary to notify the place of sale, the supplier or the intervention agency. Absolutely do not consume suspicious and poor quality food to ensure the health and life of yourself and your family.
