Table 2. Clinical features, diagnosis, and course of infant botulism patients, Israel, 2007–2021*.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Clinical feature, no. positive/no. tested | |
| Respiratory distress | 3/8 |
| Ptosis | 6/8 |
| Facialis | 1/8 |
| Poor feeding | 7/8 |
| Descending paralysis | 6/8 |
| Depressed tendon reflexes | 4/6 |
| Hypotonia | 8/8 |
| Constipation | 7/8 |
| Hoarseness | 3/8 |
| Aspiration or decreased gag reflex | 4/8 |
| Weak cry | 7/8 |
| Lack of smile | 4/8 |
| Drooling | 1/8 |
| Mydriasis |
2/8 |
| Diagnostic tool used, no. positive/no. tested | |
| Electromyographic test | 3/4 |
| Toxin A | 3/8 |
| Toxin B | 5/8 |
| Stool PCR | 2/2 |
| EndoPep-MS | 2/2 |
| Mouse lethality bioassay |
7/8 |
| Course of illness, d, median (range) | |
| Time to resolution | 75 (16–180) |
| Duration of nasogastric tube support† | 11 (10–27) |
| Duration of intubation‡ | 11.5 (2–21) |
| Duration of ICU stay§ | 10.5 (11–30) |
| Duration of hospitalization | 16 (11–30) |
| Time to diagnosis | 9.5 (4–35) |
*EndoPep-MS, mass spectrometric–based endopeptidase assay for detecting and differentiating botulinum neurotoxin serotypes; ICU, intensive care unit. †5/8 patients were supported by feeding tube. ‡2/8 patients were intubated. §4/8 patients were admitted to ICU.