Botulism Diagnosis 

Botulism Diagnosis: An Introduction 

In order to make a  botulism diagnosis, the doctor will ask a number of questions about: 

• The food or drinks you have consumed recently 
• Any current medical conditions you  may have 
• Your current medications. 

As part of making a botulism diagnosis,  the doctor will also perform a  physical exam, looking for signs of  botulism. This exam will include eye and neurological tests. If the doctor suspects botulism, he or she will send a blood or stool sample  to a specialized laboratory for analysis.
  
Challenges Inherent in Making a Botulism Diagnosis 

Because botulism occurs rarely and the symptoms  of botulism are similar to those of other diseases, making an accurate diagnosis can be challenging. Botulism is frequently misdiagnosed.
  
Other diseases that  can appear similar to botulism include: 

• Myasthenia gravis 
• Polymyositis  
• Guillain-Barre syndrome 
• Stroke  
• Lyme disease. 

Special  tests may be needed to exclude these other conditions. These tests can include: 

• A  brain scan (CT scan or MRI) 
• Lumbar puncture to examine  spinal fluid
• Nerve  conduction test (electromyography or EMG)
• Tensilon test for myasthenia. 

A botulism  diagnosis can also be difficult, because the lab test used to make a diagnosis  can take up to 4 days to complete,  and is available in only a few laboratories.