Un caso di botulismo infantile

Abstract

A 6-month-old infant had been presenting with weak sucking and reduced spontaneous limb movements for a week. He had constipation problems for 4 days followed by hard stool. Upon admission, blood tests including metabolic screening and instrumental investigations were performed. Upon further inquiry into the family history, it was discovered that the father works as a mason. Due to suspicion of infant botulism, the Poison Control Center Unit of Pavia was contacted, and a faecal sample was sent to the Brescia Zooprophylactic Institute, which tested positive for Clostridium bacteria that produce botulinum toxin subtype B. The infant did not require respiratory or nutritional support. Antitoxin therapy was not initiated, and the infant was discharged upon negative test results. Botulism is a neuroparalytic disease characterized by acute symmetric descending flaccid paralysis caused by neurotoxin. The pathogenetic mechanism involves the botulinum toxin inhibiting the formation of the SNARE complex, crucial for the release of neurotransmitters at the neuromuscular junction.