International Journal of Gerontology
Volume 1, Issue 3 , Pages 118-124, September 2007

Botulism: A Frequently Forgotten Old Malady

  • Teguh Thajeb

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Lin-Kou, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Department of Internal Medicine, Li-Shin Hospital, Ping-Jen City, Taoyuan, Taipei, Taiwan
  • ,
  • Yi-Min Chen

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurology and Medical Research, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
  • ,
  • Dao-Fu Dai

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
  • ,
  • Daniel Daile Thajeb

      Affiliations

    • School of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taipei, Taiwan
  • ,
  • Peterus Thajeb

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurology and Medical Research, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Dr Peterus Thajeb, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, P.O. Box Nei-Hu 6-30, Taipei City 11499, Taiwan

Accepted 15 March 2007.

Article Outline

SUMMARY 

A frequently forgotten old malady called botulism has been recognized for more than a century. This ailment occurs worldwide, afflicts human of all age groups from infants to elderly and affects Oriental people more often in several regions of China. Occurrence in Taiwan is uncommon, and therefore, it is often overlooked. The outbreaks of human botulism in various regions of the world, the clinical types, the molecular mechanisms, and the electrophysiologic findings will be highlighted.

Key Words:  Botox , botulinum neurotoxin , botulism , Clostridium botulinum , paralysis

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PII: S1873-9598(08)70032-2

doi:10.1016/S1873-9598(08)70032-2

International Journal of Gerontology
Volume 1, Issue 3 , Pages 118-124, September 2007