Never give honey to a child under one year of age. The reason is important [WE EXPLAIN]

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Honey is one of the healthiest natural products in the world, known for its antibiotic properties (it fights some bacteria better than they can) and anti-inflammatory properties. And yet honey is better not to give to children under the age of one. The reason is important: the risk of botulism – a condition that can even result in the death of an infant. What is this disease and what does it have in common with honey? We explain.

1. Honey is safe for adults and older children, and in infants it can lead to serious disease
2. Infant botulism is one form of botulism infection
3. Sausage venom is the strongest known biological poison – it attacks the nervous system, prevents the proper functioning of the muscles
4. Botulism is potentially fatal and requires immediate medical attention
5. You can find more up-to-date information on the TvoiLokony home page

Why is Honey Dangerous for Babies?

Honey is said to be “liquid gold”. Its remarkable properties have been used in medicine for thousands of years. It is enough to mention that it accelerates wound healing, strengthens immunity, has strong antibiotic properties, helps with sleep disorders, soothes nerves, stimulates digestion. Honey contains (albeit in trace amounts) potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron and folic acid.

Of course, due to the high sugar content and high glycemic index (GI: 60), honey should be avoided by diabetics and overweight people. Why, however, we do not give honey under any circumstances to children under 12 months of age, but to older children, yes?

1. Bacterial food poisoning

While honey is safe for adults and older children, for toddlers before the age of one, its consumption may lead to a serious form of botulism, namely “infant botulism”. Honey is not a product free from microbial contamination. Therefore, there is a risk of contamination with a dangerous neurotoxin – botulinum toxin. A poison that the small organism cannot cope with yet.

Botulism – what is this disease?

Botulism is also known as botulinum toxin infection (Clostridium botulinum). It occurs due to the consumption of products contaminated with botulinum toxin (or botulism) produced by bacteria in food contaminated by them. Botulism is a rare but very serious food poisoning. The sausage venom is the strongest known biological poison – it attacks the nervous systempreventing the muscles from working properly, which can lead to flaccid paralysis or even cessation of breathing.

1. Deadly sausage venom

A potential source of botulism may be various types of preserves and preserves (meat, fish, vegetables and fruit), but also, for example, infected soil.

The time after which symptoms of poisoning appear (the period of the incubation of the disease) depends on the dose of the toxin and ranges from several hours to 14 days. Symptoms most often appear 18-36 hours after eating contaminated food, and the higher the dose of the toxin, the sooner it will appear.

In the classic – the most common – form of botulism, the symptoms are: weakness, fatigue, dizziness and dry mouth (the secretion of saliva and mucus is inhibited), problems with vision, speech, swallowing, and respiratory muscles weaken.

Baby botulism – what is it, symptoms, relationship with honey

Infant botulism is one form of botulism infection. The disease is caused by the consumption of botulinum toxin spores contained in the honey.

In children under one year of age, the spores of honey-derived botulinum toxins can take an active form in the intestine and produce toxin-producing forms (botulism symptoms can occur up to a month after ingesting an infected product). This is possible thanks to the toddler’s not fully stabilized intestinal flora. In adults, the toxin does not usually enter the gut, precisely because of the normal bacterial flora.

Children affected by infantile botulism appear lethargic, cry quietly, refuse to eat, are irritable, have constipation and have decreased muscle tone (“slack baby syndrome”). If left untreated, symptoms progress, paralyzing the muscles of the arms, legs and trunk, and may result in respiratory failure. Botulism is potentially fatal and requires immediate medical attention.

Recommendation: never give honey to children before the age of one

There is no vaccine to protect against botulism, so the best way to avoid the risk is to prevent infection. For this reason, specialists recommend that:

1. Never give honey to children under one year of age (we do not add it to foods, drinks and infant formulas, baked goods and other dishes)
2. Also, do not give your children corn syrup – like honey, it may contain bacteria
3. Cook meals preserved at home (especially homemade preserves)
4. Maintain proper hygiene, do not expose the child to dirt or dust, which may also be contaminated with bacteria.

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