Syndrome of Botulism in Infancy: Clinical and Electrophysiologic Study

Abstract

Although botulism is characterized by weakness and hypotonicity, it is rarely considered in the diagnosis of the hypotonic infant. We report on two infants whose clinical course and electrophysiological findings were consistent with botulism and from whom botulinal toxin was identified in stool.Case ReportsCase 1. A two-month-old boy had diffuse weakness of short duration. He was the product of an unremarkable gestation, labor, and delivery. At birth, examination was normal; he had a vigorous suck. He was breast-fed and received only vitamin preparations. Growth and development were normal until he was six weeks old, when over a period . . .