Infant botulism

[Justin Bieber]

Infant botulism is a potentially life-threatening infection that causes muscle weakness. It develops in infants who eat food containing spores of Clostridium botulinum bacteria.
(See also Overview of Clostridial Infections and Botulism in adults.)
Clostridium botulinum do not require oxygen to live. That is, they are anaerobes.
Clostridia bacteria produce spores. Spores are an inactive (dormant) form of the bacteria. Spores enable bacteria to survive when environmental conditions are difficult. When conditions are favorable, spores grow into bacteria. Clostridia spores grow when they have moisture and nutrients and there is no oxygen, as occurs in the intestine. Thus, if infants consume food containing clostridia spores, the spores grow into bacteria in the intestine and start producing toxins.
Infant botulism occurs most commonly among infants younger than 6 months of age.
The cause of most cases of infant botulism is unknown, but some cases have been linked to the ingestion of honey. Thus, doctors recommend that children under 12 months old not be fed honey.