Foodborne Botulism in Jeddah: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

Abstract

Botulism is a rare but severe and potentially life-threatening paralytic illness caused by botulinum toxin. Botulism can occur spontaneously or can be induced accidentally. Three main forms of botulism, namely, foodborne botulism, wound botulism, and infant botulism, are recognized. Foodborne botulism is caused by the consumption of improperly prepared or preserved foodstuffs contaminated with Clostridium botulinum toxin. The patients presented with a similar disease that included severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting followed by descending, symmetric flaccid paralysis with bilateral facial nerve palsy. The condition improved over 3 to 4 months with physiotherapy despite the administration of botulinus antitoxin. This work aims to increase awareness in the Middle East about this life-threatening condition.
This is the first report of botulism in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Two cases of foodborne botulism have been reported in Saudi Arabia. Both incubations were short, and both patients became acutely ill but recovered. The first case was reported in Al-Baha, in the south of Saudi Arabia, while the second case occurred in Mecca, the holy city. In our study, the laboratory investigations ruled out wound botulism and Konzo and hence established the diagnosis of type A botulism based on clinical findings and a similar history of food consumption. The four patients presented with a similar disease that included severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting followed by descending, symmetric flaccid paralysis with bilateral facial nerve palsy. The condition improved over 3 to 4 months with physiotherapy despite the administration of botulinus antitoxin. It is important to highlight that botulism is a disease that usually occurs after the ingestion of toxic food, which is often home-preserved with a low acidic pH.