Diagnosis and Treatment of Botulism
Publication Date: May 7, 2021
Last Updated: November 27, 2023
Recommendations
Consider botulism when myasthenia gravis or Guillain-Barré syndrome are suspected and in a patient with unexplained symmetric cranial nerve palsies, with or without paresis of other muscles.
Conduct thorough, serial neurologic examinations to detect the neurologic deficits of botulism and their progression.
If botulism is suspected, immediately contact the local or state health department’s emergency on-call staff to arrange an emergency expert clinical consultation and, when indicated, request botulinum antitoxin from CDC.
Conduct thorough, serial neurologic examinations to detect the neurologic deficits of botulism and their progression.
If botulism is suspected, immediately contact the local or state health department’s emergency on-call staff to arrange an emergency expert clinical consultation and, when indicated, request botulinum antitoxin from CDC.
Recommendation Grading
Overview
Title
Diagnosis and Treatment of Botulism
Authoring Organization
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Publication Month/Year
May 7, 2021
Last Updated Month/Year
August 15, 2023
Supplemental Implementation Tools
Document Type
Guideline
External Publication Status
Published
Country of Publication
US
Inclusion Criteria
Male, Female, Adolescent, Adult, Child, Older adult
Health Care Settings
Ambulatory, Childcare center, Emergency care, Hospital
Intended Users
Nurse, nurse practitioner, physician, physician assistant
Scope
Diagnosis, Assessment and screening, Treatment
Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)
D001906 - Botulism
Keywords
Botulism, cranial nerve palsies, neurotoxin-mediated, flaccid, Botulinum neurotoxin, Clostridium botulinum
Source Citation
Rao AK, Sobel J, Chatham-Stephens K, Luquez C. Clinical Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Botulism, 2021. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021 May 7;70(2):1-30. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.rr7002a1. PMID: 33956777; PMCID: PMC8112830.