{"id":652892,"date":"2025-02-10T01:05:15","date_gmt":"2025-02-09T22:05:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/what-is-botulism-how-this-nerve-paralyzing-illness-can-be-linked-to-dodgy-botox\/"},"modified":"2025-02-10T01:05:15","modified_gmt":"2025-02-09T22:05:15","slug":"what-is-botulism-how-this-nerve-paralyzing-illness-can-be-linked-to-dodgy-botox","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-botulism-how-this-nerve-paralyzing-illness-can-be-linked-to-dodgy-botox\/","title":{"rendered":"#What is botulism? How this &#8216;nerve-paralyzing illness&#8217; can be linked to dodgy botox"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a39f1730e53b\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a39f1730e53b\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-botulism-how-this-nerve-paralyzing-illness-can-be-linked-to-dodgy-botox\/#Botox_and_botulism\" >Botox and botulism<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-botulism-how-this-nerve-paralyzing-illness-can-be-linked-to-dodgy-botox\/#Botulism_can_also_be_a_food-borne_illness\" >Botulism can also be a food-borne illness<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-botulism-how-this-nerve-paralyzing-illness-can-be-linked-to-dodgy-botox\/#Its_extremely_rare\" >It&#8217;s extremely rare<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-is-botulism-how-this-nerve-paralyzing-illness-can-be-linked-to-dodgy-botox\/#Is_there_anything_people_can_do_to_stay_safe\" >Is there anything people can do to stay safe?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2024\/botox-1.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2024\/botox-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Credit: Pixabay\/CC0 Public Domain\">\n<figure class=\"article-img\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2024\/botox-1.jpg\" alt=\"Botox\" title=\"Credit: Pixabay\/CC0 Public Domain\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-darken text-low-up text-truncate-js text-truncate mt-3\">\n                Credit: Pixabay\/CC0 Public Domain<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2025-01-31\/botox-botulism-case-victoria-nsw\/104875098\" target=\"_blank\">news last week<\/a> that three people in Sydney were hospitalized with botulism after receiving botox injections has raised questions about the regulation of the cosmetic injectables industry.<\/p>\n<p>The three women allegedly received injections of unregulated anti-wrinkle products from the same provider at a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/national\/nsw\/woman-behind-botox-hospitalisations-barred-by-healthcare-watchdogs-20250131-p5l8ms.html\" target=\"_blank\">Western Sydney home in January<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The provider, who is not a registered health practitioner, is <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2025-01-31\/botox-botulism-case-victoria-nsw\/104875098\" target=\"_blank\">allegedly also linked<\/a> to a case of botulism that occurred following a botox injection in Victoria in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>The provider <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/national\/nsw\/woman-behind-botox-hospitalisations-barred-by-healthcare-watchdogs-20250131-p5l8ms.html\" target=\"_blank\">has been banned<\/a> from performing cosmetic procedures in New South Wales and Victoria while the incidents are investigated. Meanwhile, health authorities in both states have <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2025-01-31\/botox-botulism-case-victoria-nsw\/104875098\" target=\"_blank\">issued warnings<\/a> about the practitioner.<\/p>\n<p>So, what exactly is botulism? And how can it be linked to botox?<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Botox_and_botulism\"><\/span>Botox and botulism<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Botox, or botulinum toxin, is a drug made from a toxin produced by the bacterium <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/botulism\" target=\"_blank\">Clostridium botulinum<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The botox toxin is a neurotoxin, which means it prevents the functioning of cells in the central nervous system. Specifically, it blocks the messages your nerves send to your muscles telling them to contract. In this way it can temporarily reduce wrinkles.<\/p>\n<p>While botox is best known for its cosmetic <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>lications, it can also be used in the treatment of certain medical conditions, such as chronic migraines and muscle spasms.<\/p>\n<p>The toxin is used in a highly diluted form in botox injections. Notwithstanding the possibility of side effects (such as temporary <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/tests-procedures\/botox\/about\/pac-20384658\" target=\"_blank\">pain and swelling<\/a> at the injection site), botox is <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">general<\/a>ly considered safe when conducted by licensed health practitioners.<\/p>\n<p>Botulism is likewise caused by a toxin produced by the bacteria C. botulinum.<\/p>\n<p>Instances of botulism linked to botox injections in the past have been attributed to <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/national\/nsw\/woman-behind-botox-hospitalisations-barred-by-healthcare-watchdogs-20250131-p5l8ms.html\" target=\"_blank\">counterfeit or mishandled product<\/a>. Mishandling might include contamination from the toxin source in the diluted product, leading to a higher dose of the toxin, or improper refrigeration. Poor injection technique can also be a factor.<\/p>\n<p>When the botulinum toxin is not handled properly, the toxin can enter the bloodstream. This is how botulism occurs.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Botulism_can_also_be_a_food-borne_illness\"><\/span>Botulism can also be a food-borne illness<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>C. botulinum can form spores and survive in tough conditions, meaning it can withstand many food preparation techniques.<\/p>\n<p>People who consume homemade preserved foods such as vegetables, particularly those that are not cooked during preparation, can be at a higher risk of food-borne botulism. Lower levels of salt and acid, as is the case with mild fermentation, can also increase the risk of the toxin being present.<\/p>\n<p>C. botulinum can also survive in soil and water. In this way, botulism can also be caused by bacteria from the environment. This can present as <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/botulism\" target=\"_blank\">wound infections<\/a>, or intestinal infection with C. botulinum in infants specifically.<\/p>\n<p>Intravenous drug users are at a higher risk of <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/botulism\/risk-factors\/wound-botulism.html\" target=\"_blank\">wound-borne botulism<\/a>, while infants tend to suffer from gastrointestinal botulism because their gut microbiomes are still developing.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Its_extremely_rare\"><\/span>It&#8217;s extremely rare<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Botulism is very unusual, with generally only about <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healthdirect.gov.au\/botulism\" target=\"_blank\">one case reported annually<\/a> in Australia.<\/p>\n<p>However it&#8217;s very serious. It&#8217;s commonly referred to as a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2025-01-31\/botox-botulism-case-victoria-nsw\/104875098\" target=\"_blank\">nerve-paralyzing illness<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Symptoms can develop <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/botulism\" target=\"_blank\">within a few hours<\/a> to several days after exposure to the toxin, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/botulism\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20370262\" target=\"_blank\">and include<\/a> drooping eyelids, difficulty breathing, facial weakness, blurred vision, difficulty swallowing and slurred speech. In infants it can cause floppy limbs and a weak cry.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s treated by supporting breathing if necessary, and urgently administering a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.health.nsw.gov.au\/Infectious\/controlguideline\/Pages\/botulism.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">botox antitoxin<\/a>, which binds to the toxin, preventing it from attaching to nerve cells in the body.<\/p>\n<p>Usually patients recover, although in some cases they may need to be in hospital for months, and sometimes symptoms such as fatigue and trouble breathing <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/botulism\/treatment\" target=\"_blank\">can last years<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Botulism is fatal in <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/botulism\" target=\"_blank\">5\u201310% of cases<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_there_anything_people_can_do_to_stay_safe\"><\/span>Is there anything people can do to stay safe?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The cosmetic injectables industry is estimated to be worth <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2024-12-03\/botox-and-cosmetic-injectables-business-is-booming-in-australia\/104671402\" target=\"_blank\">A$4.1 billion in Australia<\/a> and forecast to grow by almost 20% annually until 2030. These recent incidents in NSW and Victoria highlight the need for stronger regulation in this booming industry.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re considering a cosmetic botox injection, make sure it&#8217;s administered by a trusted professional, ideally someone registered with <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ahpra.gov.au\/Resources\/Cosmetic-surgery-hub\/Information-for-the-public\/Thinking-about-cosmetic-injectables.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Asking your practitioner about the injectable they&#8217;re using, and ensuring the specific product is registered with the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tga.gov.au\/\" target=\"_blank\">Therapeutic Goods Administration<\/a>, can further limit any risk associated with botox procedures.<\/p>\n<p>If you make your own preserved foods, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.health.nsw.gov.au\/Infectious\/factsheets\/Pages\/botulism.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">careful food production techniques<\/a> and hygiene, as well as the addition of fermentation, acid, salt or heat treatment can limit the risk of food-borne botulism.<\/p>\n<div class=\"d-inline-block text-medium my-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProvided by<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Conversation<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"icon_open\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<use href=\"https:\/\/medx.b-cdn.net\/tmpl\/v6\/img\/svg\/sprite.svg#icon_open\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"article-main__note mt-4\">\n                                                This article is republished from <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\" target=\"_blank\">The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/what-is-botulism-how-this-nerve-paralysing-illness-can-be-linked-to-dodgy-botox-248765\" target=\"_blank\">original article<\/a>.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/248765\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced\" alt=\"The Conversation\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\"\/>\n                                            <\/p>\n<p>                                        <!-- print only --><\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none d-print-block\">\n<p>\n                                                 <strong>Citation<\/strong>:<br \/>\n                                                 What is botulism? How this &#8216;nerve-paralyzing illness&#8217; can be linked to dodgy botox (2025, February 9)<br \/>\n                                                 retrieved 9 February 2025<br \/>\n                                                 from https:\/\/medicalxpress.com\/<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a>\/2025-02-botulism-nerve-paralyzing-illness-linked.html\n                                            <\/p>\n<p>\n                                            This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no<br \/>\n                                            part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.\n                                            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script id=\"facebook-jssdk\" async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/category\/sciencee\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Science category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/medicalxpress.com\/news\/2025-02-botulism-nerve-paralyzing-illness-linked.html\" target=\"_blank\" >Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Credit: Pixabay\/CC0 Public Domain The news last week that three people in Sydney were hospitalized with botulism after receiving botox injections has raised questions about the regulation of the cosmetic injectables industry. The three women allegedly received injections of unregulated anti-wrinkle products from the same provider at a Western Sydney home in January. The provider,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":652893,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2024\/botox-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-652892","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sciencee"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/652892","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=652892"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/652892\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/652893"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=652892"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=652892"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=652892"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}