JAPAN REPORTS FIRST INFANT BOTULISM DEATH|日本半歲男嬰飲蜂蜜水 肉毒桿菌中毒死亡

Japan reported its first infant botulism death after a baby boy was poisoned by honey. Pediatricians pointed out that as honey can be easily contaminated with toxin-producing bacteria, feeding it to babies who have not developed gut flora may lead to malfunction of neurotransmitters, muscle weakness, and even respiratory failure or sudden death. A six-month-old baby boy in Japan was given juice mixed with 10 grams of honey every day. Shortness of breath and spasms suddenly occurred the other day. He was immediately taken to the hospital but was still declared dead. This was Japan's first infant botulism death. ==WANG CHUNG-HAO Heping Fuyou Branch Pediatrician, Taipei City Hospital== Infants have not developed optimal gut flora. Exposure to Clostridium botulinum and toxin-producing bacteria can easily lead to poisoning. Pediatricians stated that Clostridium botulinum are everywhere. When honey bees collect pollen and nectar, Clostridium botulinum can also be collected, which, in turn, can contaminate the honey. Infants under one year old tend to have less developed gut flora. Giving them honey can cause the malfunction of neurotransmitters, leading to muscle weakness and respiratory failure. ==Mr. FAN Parent== Although babies can have honey at one year old, I think it's too sweet for them. We think giving babies water is more natural and healthy, so we give our baby water most of the time. ==Mr. SU Parent == I've read similar reports. It is best not to feed honey to babies under one year old to prevent allergens. Doctors stated that babies can be given non-staple food, water, or fresh juice at four months old. Cold or uncooked food is not suggested as it might overstimulate babies' GI tract and affect digestion. Patients with diabetes or liver cirrhosis are also suggested not to have honey. TRANSLATED BY：LUKE CHIANG 天氣越來越熱，有些人會喝蜂蜜水消暑、美容養顏，不過一歲以下嬰幼兒、千萬不要喝蜂蜜水！日本就有一名6個月大男嬰，因為喝了蜂蜜水，肉毒桿菌中毒死亡，而國內小兒科醫師表示，蜂蜜容易帶有肉毒桿菌孢子，但嬰兒腸道菌叢還沒有發育完全，若喝了含有肉毒桿菌的蜂蜜，就會影響神經傳導，造成全身無力，甚至有呼吸衰竭、猝死的風險。 嬰幼兒喝蜂蜜水、小心中毒死亡！日本東京都有一名6個月大男嬰，被家人餵食摻有蜂蜜的果汁，每天大約攝取10公克的蜂蜜，沒想到日前出現呼吸困難、痙攣等症狀，緊急送醫治療後，仍因肉毒桿菌中毒不治死亡，成為日本第一起、嬰兒感染肉毒桿菌死亡的病例。 ==北市聯醫婦幼院區小兒科醫師 王中豪== 他們腸胃道的菌叢 都還沒有正常的發展 很容易受到肉毒桿菌 它產生的孢子 裡面有毒素 肉毒桿菌的毒素 而引起全身性的中毒 而國內小兒科醫師表示，肉毒桿菌存在於週遭環境中，蜜蜂採蜜過程、很容易將肉毒桿菌的花粉和蜂蜜帶回蜂箱，使得蜂蜜受到肉毒桿菌的污染，而一歲以下的嬰幼兒，腸道菌叢還沒有發育完全，免疫力相對較差，如果喝了蜂蜜，肉毒桿菌孢子會在嬰兒的腸道繁殖產生毒素，影響神經傳導，造成全身無力、呼吸衰竭。 ==嬰幼兒家長 范先生== 雖然說1歲之後是可以吃蜂蜜 可是還是覺得它太甜了 對啊 我們還是覺得 喝水比較自然健康 所以還是以喝水為主 ==嬰幼兒家長 蘇先生== 看過這樣子的報導 就是小朋友1歲以前不要 盡量不要碰蜂蜜這種 比較會有敏感源的這種東西 醫師建議家長，嬰幼兒四個月以上、開始吃副食品時，可以適時補充白開水或新鮮果汁，但千萬不要餵食生冷食物，以免過度刺激腸道，影響消化功能；此外，有糖尿病或肝硬化的患者，也千萬不要吃蜂蜜，避免影響病情。 記者 賴淑敏 張梓嘉 台北報導