What to know
- Botulism is diagnosed by laboratory testing.
- It can take several days to get the results of your tests from the laboratory.
- If your healthcare provider suspects you have botulism, you might start treatment right away.
Why get tested
Botulism is a medical emergency.
If untreated, the disease may progress, and symptoms may worsen to cause full paralysis of some muscles. These muscles include ones used in breathing and ones in the arms, legs, and torso.*
*The torso is the part of the body from the neck to the pelvis area. It is also called the trunk.
What to expect
Examination
Your healthcare provider will ask you questions and examine you to find out the cause of your symptoms.
These clues are usually not enough for your healthcare provider to diagnose you. That's because some botulism symptoms also occur with other diseases. These diseases include Guillain-Barré syndrome, meningitis, myasthenia gravis, stroke, and even opioid overdose.
Laboratory testing
Your healthcare provider might also order laboratory tests to look for the toxin or bacteria that cause botulism. These laboratory tests are the only way to know for certain whether you have botulism. It may take several days to get the results of your tests from the laboratory.
If your healthcare provider suspects you have botulism, you might start treatment immediately.