Wound botulism in pediatrics
M. A. Keller, V. H. Miller, C. D. Berkowitz and R. N. Yoshimori
A 6-year-old boy with congenital deafness sustained compound fractures to
his left ulna and radius. Six days after the injury, he appeared lethargic,
and his illness progressed to respiratory failure within three days.
Although the wound at the fracture site appeared benign, cultures obtained
when the wound was opened grew Clostridium botulinum, type B. Both the
patient's deafness and the appearance of his wound contributed to the delay
in diagnosis of wound botulism. Differential diagnosis and treatment of
this rare entity are discussed.
