Final answer:
Botulism causes muscle paralysis throughout the body and can be life-threatening, particularly affecting breathing muscles. It is most commonly contracted through improperly canned foods, infected wounds, or in infants, from ingesting spores found in soil or honey. Treatment involves an antitoxin, not antibiotics, to prevent progression of paralysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Botulism and Its Effects on Muscle Groups
Botulism, caused by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium, primarily affects the body's muscular system. Botulinum toxin (Botox) leads to flaccid paralysis of the muscles by preventing the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter essential for muscle contraction. This paralysis can affect all voluntary muscles, including the respiratory muscles, which can make botulism life-threatening. Injections of botulinum toxin can be used in controlled, small doses to treat various medical conditions characterized by unwanted muscle contractions.
Who is Prone to Botulism?
Individuals who consume improperly canned or preserved foods, infants who ingest soil or honey containing the bacterium's spores, and those with open wounds that get infected with Clostridium botulinum are at risk for developing botulism. Symptoms can range from blurred vision and difficulty swallowing to progressive paralysis. An antitoxin can stop the paralysis from advancing, though recovery can be lengthy, and patients may require ventilation support
Treatment for botulism does not include antibiotics because they are not effective against the toxin itself; instead, a specific antitoxin is used to address this neurological condition.