Botulismo - revisão a propósito de um caso

Abstract

Foodborne botulism is a serious, acute disease with digestive and neurological symptoms. It results from ingestion of food, containing toxins formed by Clostridium botulinum. There has been an increase in the incidence in Portugal and Spain. The authors report a case of botulism that culminated in the identification of a common origin for four other cases. It was a patient of 47 years with a clinical picture of diplopia, dysphagia, fever, dizziness, blurred vision, dry mouth and constipation and gastrointestinal complaints. He ingested smoked product 48-72h before resorting to the emergency room. He was interned for study. Changes in EMG compatible with presynaptic neuromuscular block were found. Serum toxin and suspicious food product were isolated and identified. He recovered completely from the clinical picture with support therapy and physiotherapy. The authors intend to alert to a disease that although not rare, presents difficulties in the diagnosis, being this one essentially clinical with suggestive epidemiological context, confirmed by electromyographic changes and identification of the toxin.