Rare Case of Botulism and Dysphagia: The Role of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine.

Botulism is a rare cause of flaccid paralysis resulting from the neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It is clinically characterized by symmetric proximal-distal paralysis, diplopia, dysarthria, dysphonia, and dysphagia. Definitive diagnosis requires laboratory confirmation through the detection of the toxin in blood, vomit, or stool samples. Treatment with antitoxin should be promptly initiated upon clinical suspicion and in the presence of epidemiological support due to evidence of reduced mortality. Physical and rehabilitation medicine plays a fundamental role in the recovery of deficits and prevention of complications. In this report, the authors describe a 19-year-old patient with botulism with dysphagia, dysphonia, and facial paresis in the rehabilitation ward.