[Familial occurrence of botulism - a case report]

Botulism, a life-threatening condition, is very rare in the Czech Republic. Since 1960, a total of 155 cases have been reported; between 2010 and 2012, not a single case was identified. This is a case report of familiar occurrence of botulism following consumption of home-made pork and liver pâté in three family members admitted to the Department of Infectious, Tropical and Parasitic Diseases, Na Bulovce Hospital in Prague in May 2013. The neurological symptoms were dominated by diplopia and dysarthria. After administration of an antitoxin, all patients recovered. Given the poor availability of the antitoxin, a decision was made following this small family epidemic to have an emergency reserve of life-saving anti-infective drugs for the Czech Republic in the Toxicological Information Center in Prague.