Botulism: meaning, definitions and examples

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botulism

 

[หˆbษ’t.jสŠ.lษช.zษ™m ]

Definition

Context #1 | Noun

food poisoning

Botulism is a rare but potentially fatal illness caused by a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The toxin affects the nervous system and can lead to paralysis. It is primarily associated with improperly canned or preserved foods. There are three main types of botulism: foodborne, wound, and infant botulism. Symptoms may include muscle weakness, double vision, difficulty swallowing, and respiratory failure if not treated promptly.

Synonyms

nerve toxin infection, toxin poisoning.

Examples of usage

  • The outbreak of botulism was traced back to homemade canned goods.
  • Infant botulism is particularly dangerous for babies under one year old.
  • Wound botulism can occur after injecting illicit drugs.
  • Early recognition of botulism symptoms is crucial for effective treatment.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word 'botulism' comes from the Latin 'botulus,' which means sausage, as the illness was first linked to improperly canned sausages.
  • In 1895, a German scientist named Emile van Ermengem discovered the bacteria responsible for the disease after an outbreak in Belgium.

Health and Safety

  • Botulism is caused by a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which is one of the most powerful toxins known.
  • There are several types of botulism: foodborne, wound, and infant botulism, each with different causes and symptoms.
  • Foodborne botulism often occurs in home-canned foods that are not processed properly, making safe canning practices crucial.

Prevention

  • Boiling food for at least 10 minutes effectively destroys the botulinum toxin, making it safe to eat.
  • Commercial food manufacturers must follow strict guidelines to prevent botulism contamination in their products.

Symptoms and Treatment

  • Symptoms of botulism include muscle weakness, blurred vision, and difficulty swallowing or breathing, and they usually appear 18 to 36 hours after eating contaminated food.
  • Immediate medical treatment with antitoxin can significantly reduce the severity of the illness if administered early.

Cultural References

  • Botulism has been featured in popular media, often depicted as a mysterious illness, which highlights its dangerous nature.
  • Awareness campaigns sometimes use botulism as an example of food safety issues to educate the public on proper food handling.

Translations

Translations of the word "botulism" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น botulismo

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฌเฅ‹เคŸเฅเคฒเคฟเคœเคผเฅเคฎ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Botulismus

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ botulisme

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฑะพั‚ัƒะปั–ะทะผ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ botulizm

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใƒœใƒ„ใƒชใƒŒใ‚น็—‡

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท botulisme

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ botulismo

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท botulizm

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ณดํˆด๋ฆฌ๋ˆ„์Šค ์ค‘๋…

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุงู„ุชุณู…ู… ุงู„ูˆุดูŠู‚ูŠ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ botulismus

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ botulizmus

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ่‚‰ๆฏ’ไธญๆฏ’

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ botulizem

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ botulismi

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฑะพั‚ัƒะปะธะทะผ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ‘แƒแƒขแƒฃแƒšแƒ˜แƒ–แƒ›แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ botulizm

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ botulismo

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,278, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.