Thailand's paediatric body offers advice on infantile botulism symptoms

The move comes after Dumex Thailand recalled five products on Sunday in response to information from Fonterra, a New Zealand-based dairy supplier, that one of their ingredients had a potential contamination issue, and that this ingredient was supplied to Dumex.

Dumex has since instigated a precautionary recall of some specific products in Thailand for the safety of consumers. The products recalled are those manufactured during April 29, 2013 and June 28, 2013.

The Royal College of Paediatricians of Thailand's president Dr Somsak Lohlekha said infantile botulism, triggered when a child ingests spores of clostridium botulism bacteria in the suspected powdered milk, can cause such severe symptoms sas muscle weakness, paralysis, inability to raise the head, drooping eyelids, mydriasis, and breathing problems. Ingestion of the bacteria by infants under six months is of particular concern, as their intestines lack the ability to digest the bacteria. 

Severe symptoms would be expected to develop between three and 30 days after ingestion of the suspected powdered milk products. Should one or more of the symptoms develop during the first two weeks, parents are advised to take their babies for immediate treatment

“These severe symptoms can be treated if parents take their babies to doctors as soon as possible,” he said.

As yet, there have been no reports in Thailand that any children have developed symptoms after drinking the powdered milk. The Royal College of Paediatricians has issued guidelines for paediatricians to observe suspected symptoms in children.

Some 100 children in United States are reported to have fallen ill after eating honey tainted with infantile botulism. 

In a related development, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday called all powdered milk manufacturers to inform them of good manufacturing practices as well as the surveillance measure to monitor the contaminants in powdered milk products.