What condition does Clostridium botulinum cause in infants?

Clostridium botulinum is a bacterium that produces a potent toxin responsible for botulism. In infants, the primary concern is a specific form of botulism known as infant botulism, which typically occurs in children under one year of age. The infant's gut is not yet fully developed, allowing the spores from C. botulinum to germinate and produce toxin in their intestines.

The hallmark of infant botulism is flaccid paralysis. This paralysis arises because the botulinum toxin interferes with the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, leading to muscle weakness and reduced tone. Infants may present with symptoms such as a weak cry, poor feeding, hypotonia (decreased muscle tone), and a characteristic "floppy" appearance due to this muscle weakness.

Understanding the other options in this context highlights the specific nature of botulism in infants. Muscle rigidity, diarrhea, and severe vomiting are typically associated with other conditions or types of botulism (such as foodborne botulism in adults) and do not define the clinical picture observed in infant botulism. Flaccid paralysis is thus the critical condition directly linked to the effects of Clostridium botulin