Botulism: considerations about eight cases occurred in Triângulo Mineiro, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

Botulism constitutes a rare form of intoxication, particularly in our country. The only confirmed outbreak of this disease in Brazil occurred in the 50's in Rio Grande do Sul where nine persons acquired the disease after ingestion of home-canned fish. The present work reports an outbreak of type A botulism which occurred in eight members of the same family of whom seven contracted this food toxic infection after ingestion of home-canned pork. Two persons died and the others recovered after variable time of evolution. After eleven months a new case of botulism was diagnosed, but the source of this intoxication could not be found. The authors intend with this work to divulge the second confirmed outbreak of botulism in Brazil and to direct a special attention to ootulism clinical pictures, diagnostic and treatment pratically unknown in our country.