Comparative analysis of botulism in adults and children This article comparatively presents some clinical, epidemiological, evolutive, and laboratory data related to botulism in 270 patients (200 adults and 70 children) admitted to different hospitals specialized in infection diseases, in the Republic of Moldova. The illness evolved mostly after the consumption of different products (e.g. meat, fish, mushrooms, vegetables and fruits) canned under domestic conditions. The disease was detected with an equal frequency both in men and women, developingin groups of adults and children, separately. The major part of infected people presented average or light forms of botulism. Almost half of the patients with severe forms deceased. The signs of the disease were typical and showed ophtalmoplegical, gastrointestinal, intoxication, cardiovascular, respiratory, and urological symptoms. Confirmation of botulism was achieved by biologic tests on mice. The most frequently detected was serotype B, alone or with other agents. Treatment with a mix of antibotulinic serum A, B, E was efficient.

În articol sunt elucidate comparativ la 270 adulţi şi copii bolnavi de botulism unele date clinice, epidemiologice, evolutive şi de laborator, spitalizaţi în diferite secţii de boli infecţioase din Republica Moldova. Maladia a evoluat după consumul în hrană a produselor alimentare împachetate ermetic în condiţii casnice. Botulismul s-a întâlnit cu aceiaşi frecvenţă la adulţi şi copii, de sex masculin şi femenin, evoluînd în grup sau sporadic. Majoritatea bolnavilor au suportat botulismul în forme uşoare şi medii. Aproape o jumătate din pacienţi cu forme grave au decedat. Manifestările maladiei erau caracteristice, fiind depistate sindroamele oftalmoplegic,de intoxicaţie , gastrointestinal, cardiovasculator, respirator şi urinar. Confirmarea botulismului a fost realizată prin proba biologică pe şoareci. Cel mai frecvent a fost depistat serotipul B de sinestătător sau în asociere cu alţi agenţi. Tratamentul cu amestec de ser antibotulinic a fost eficace.