The unique clinical presentation of a 3-month-old infant in the emergency department leads the care team to suspect botulism. Which of the following assessment questions posed to the parents is likely to be most useful in the differential diagnosis?
A)"Have you ever given your child any honey or honey-containing products?"
B)"Is there any family history of neuromuscular diseases?"
C)"Has your baby ever been directly exposed to any chemical cleaning products?"
D)"Is there any mold in your home that you know of?"

Question

The unique clinical presentation of a 3-month-old infant in the emergency department leads the care team to suspect botulism. Which of the following assessment questions posed to the parents is likely to be most useful in the differential diagnosis? 
A)"Have you ever given your child any honey or honey-containing products?"
B)"Is there any family history of neuromuscular diseases?"
C)"Has your baby ever been directly exposed to any chemical cleaning products?"
D)"Is there any mold in your home that you know of?"

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Botulism in infants is frequently attributable to honey. Family history is not a relevant consideration given the bacterial etiology, and mold and chemical cleaning products are not known to predispose to botulism toxicity.

The Unique Clinical Presentation of a 3-Month-Old Infant in the Emergency