Botulism epidemiology and demographics
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Botulism Microchapters |
Diagnosis |
---|
Treatment |
Case Studies |
Botulism epidemiology and demographics On the Web |
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Botulism epidemiology and demographics |
Risk calculators and risk factors for Botulism epidemiology and demographics |
Overview
Mortality rate
Between 1910 and 1919 the death rate from botulism was 70% in the United States, dropping to 9% in the 1980s and 2% in the early 1990s, mainly because of the development of artificial respirators. Up to 60% of botulism cases can be fatal if left untreated.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the current mortality rate is 5% (type B) to 10% (type A). Other sources report that, in the U.S., the overall mortality rate is about 7.5%, but the mortality rate among adults over 60 is 30%. The mortality rate for wound botulism is about 10%. The infant botulism mortality rate is about 1.3%.
One study showed that about 5% of children whose death was attributed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome had actually died of botulism.