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The review summarises the current knowledge of the treatment of iatrogenic botulinum toxin overdose. The symptoms may be diffuse, and suspicion should be raised based on time of symptom appearance relative to the time of exposure. Iatrogenic botulism may appear if the maximum recommended total dose of botulinum toxin has been exceeded and if the drug is spread locally from the site of injection or is redistributed to the systemic circulation. The adverse drug reactions frequency is possibly underreported. Fast initiation of the available antidote may be needed. The guideline provided on treatment of iatrogenic botulism is developed from non-iatrogenic botulism.

Botulism is a rare and potentially fatal disease caused by toxins produced by Clostridum botulinum. This is a case report of severe and fatal food-borne botulism in a 59-year-old woman. She developed cardiac arrest shortly after admission, most likely due to paralysis of the respiratory muscles. Food botulism was suggested, and she was treated with antiserum pending confirmation of the diagnosis by detection of botulinum toxin in a serum sample. The source of botulism was never confirmed, but was likely to be home-canned fish.

Infant botulism is a rare disease that affects infants below the age of 12 months following absorption of neurotoxins produced by ingested Clostridium botulinum spores. The clinical manifestations are caused by symmetrical cranial nerve palsies followed by descending, symmetric flaccid paralysis of voluntary muscles. Presenting symptoms include constipation, lethargy, mydriasis and ptosis. The diagnosis is made on the basis of clinical examination and confirmed by isolating the toxin in serum or stools. Treatment consists of supportive intensive care and treatment with antitoxins.

We describe a case of botulism in a 4.5 month-old girl with complete recovery after intravenous administration of botulism immune globulin. The girl was admitted for 19 days during which supplementary nasogastric feeding was necessary. Mechanical ventilation was not needed. Despite thorough investigation, contaminated food was not found. One particular batch of canned baby food was suspected and recalled from the market, but no contamination was found. The girl had not ingested honey. The condition is rare, but can be very serious and should be kept in mind in cases presenting with the well-defined symptoms of the condition.

Botulism is a rare but potentially fatal disease caused by toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum. We report a case of botulism in a 38-year-old man after eating canned "garlic in chilli-oil". The patient was treated with antiserum. The diagnosis was confirmed by detection of botulinum B toxin by a bio-assay and growth of Clostridium botulinum from the food left-overs.

We report a case of a 5-week-old infant admitted with respiratory arrest. He had been fed with honey for two weeks. Infant botulism was suspected and confirmed by the finding of Clostridium botulinum toxin in the serum and faeces, and in the honey. The infant needed 7.5 months of ventilatory support.

Botulism is a rare and serious form of food poisoning and was diagnosed for the first time in the East Coast of Greenland. Historical reports suggest that outbreaks of this condition have occurred previously in this region. In 1990, however, the presence of Clostridium botulinum type E could be confirmed with certainty. Eight individuals partook of a meal which consisted of raw seal meat and raw seal intestines. Four of these developed symptoms of botulism and two of these required assisted ventilation. On the basis of this experience, the medical officers of health in Greenland recommend that all hospitals in Greenland should maintain a supply of antitoxin.