Neglected Epidemiological Point about Pediatric Botulism in the North East of Iran

Background: Botulism is a dangerous disease caused by the toxin of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It is necessary to familiarize the treatment staff with this disease from various aspects and check the disease outbreak situation in different regions.Method: This cross-sectional study utilized available statistics on the number of botulism cases in children aged from one month to ۱۸ years in the Razavi Khorasan region of Iran over the past six years, from ۲۰۱۸ to ۲۰۲۳.Results: A review of statistics obtained from health centers over the past six years shows the incidence of foodborne botulism in children as follows: a total of ۷۳ clinical cases of foodborne botulism have been recorded in people under the age of ۱۸, several of which the source of contamination has been proven through bioassay testing, and description follows:  In ۲۰۱۸, there were ۹ cases, all  males, in ۲۰۱۹, ۲۲ cases, ۵۰% males, in ۲۰۲۰, ۱۰ cases, ۶۰% males, in ۲۰۲۱, ۱ male case; in ۲۰۲۲, ۱۶ cases۴۰% males, and in ۲۰۲۳, ۱۵ cases, ۸۰% of which were male. The general age range of the patients was from ۱ month to ۱۸ years old. The most common sources of the disease were as follows: ۱۹% were canned fish, ۱۲% dairy products kept in an anaerobic environment (some types of yogurts, buttermilk, and local curd), and ۸% canned vegetables.Conclusion: After tuna, dairy products are the second most common source of foodborne botulism; thus, monitoring and ensuring the safety of these products is essential.

کلیدواژه ها:

botulism ، Epidemiology ، Pediatric