Symptoms of botulism

Botulism affects the muscles of the voluntary nervous system also known as the somatic nervous system in addition to causing disorders in the automatic nervous system. The automatic nervous system is that section of the central nervous system that directs involuntary actions such as sneezing, blinking of the eye, coughing, and yawning.

Muscle weakness from botulism evolves from the muscles of the cranial nerves. These are a collection of twelve nerves that control eye movements, facial muscles along side the muscles that control chewing and swallowing.

When these muscles become affected, the patient experiences double vision, falling eyelids, expressionless countenance, difficulty with speaking and swallowing could also occur.

The muscles of the arms are the next to be affected. Weakness begins from the shoulders and progresses to the forearms. It then affects the legs beginning from the thighs then settles at the feet.

In the case of advanced botulism, respiratory muscles become weakened leading to a decrease in muscle movement. This generates malfunctioning of the process of exchanging carbon dioxide and oxygen.  The resultant effect is the collapse of the respiratory system due to the augmentation of carbon dioxide and the effect of that on the brain. Coma may occur and eventually death if nothing is done.  

When the disease affects the automatic nervous system, a patient may have dryness in his mouth and throat. This happens because of a decrease in saliva production. There may also be the condition of postural hypertension that is a decrease in blood pressure when the patient rises up. This generates light headaches and the possibility of passing out.

Furthermore, constipation may occur as a result of peristalsis, a condition that causes the involuntary contraction and relaxation of the intestine muscles.

Vomiting and nausea may also occur. These are caused by the botulinum toxins B and E. 

Botulism also affects animals such as cattle, sheep, poultry pigs and horses. Symptoms such as drooling, restlessness, urine retention, in coordination which means the incapacity of one to use various parts of the body in an efficient manner, dysphagia that is pain in swallowing and sternal recumbency which signifies lying in a manner of relaxation may occur in cattle. Animals who exhibit recumbency are normally dying.   

Sheep exhibit drooling, foul odour from the nostrils, stiffness as well as in coordination, abdominal respiration and a turning of the tail to the side. Progression of the disease causes paralysis of the limps. There’s a likelihood of death to occur.

In horses, symptoms are muscles paralysis starting from the hindquarters and slowly moving to the fore limbs, neck and head. Casualty occurs within 24 and 72 hours of the onset of symptoms due to paralysis of the respiratory system. Usually, the young die showing no symptoms of other disorders.

Unlike the other three, pigs are more tolerant of botulism. However, symptoms exhibited include anorexia, muscle paralysis, vomiting and refusal to drink.

In poultry, muscles become weak in the legs, wings, neck and eyelids. Broilers may suffer diarrhea.