A 1-year-old infant is brought to the pediatrician with lethargy, a poor suck, and feeding reflux days after eating home-canned peaches. You suspect Clostridium botulinum poisoning. What is the mechanism of the toxin responsible for this child's symptoms?
A) Toxin causes convulsive contractions of skeletal muscle.
B) Toxin blocks release of acetylcholine at synapses.
C) Exfoliative toxin causes separation of granular epidermal cells.
D) Enterotoxin causes stimulation of ADP ribosylation.
E) Protein causes pore formation in epithelial cell membranes.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum blocks the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, leading to muscle paralysis, which can manifest as poor suck and feeding difficulties in infants.

A 1-Year-Old Infant Is Brought to the Pediatrician with Lethargy