Question on honey

[Guest guest]

I have heard for a very long time that honey is poison

for babies under one year old..where does this

information come from? Is this just an old wives tale

or has it come from doctors who have researched it?

A friend questioned me on the subject and I have no

concrete answer to offer...could someone help?

Ruth

[Guest guest]

This is NOT an old wives tale. You should never feed a baby honey

 

The concern is with infant botulism.

Botulinum spores are found widely in soil, dust, and honey. Adults who swallow

botulinum spores are almost never affected. When infants swallow the spores,

however, the spores can germinate in their immature gastrointestinal tracts and

begin producing botulinum toxin. This has occurred even when the honey was only

used to sweeten a pacifier (European Journal of Epidemiology, Nov 1993).

Botulinum toxin is the most poisonous natural substance known to man. The

lethal dose is only 1/10,000,000 mg per kg of body weight -- an amount that

would be invisible to the naked eye. This tiny amount in the blood stream can

cause death within minutes through paralysis of the muscles used in breathing.

Infant botulism has been found on every continent except Africa. In the United

States it is most common in the states of California, Utah, and Pennsylvania.

While infant botulism can occur from taking in soil or dust (especially vacuum

cleaner-bag dust), eating honey is the number one preventable cause. Corn syrups

are not sterilized and may also be a source of contamination (The AAP Red Book,

2000).

Infant botulism can occur any time in the first year of life, but like SIDS it

is most common in the first six months. In fact it has been suggested as the

cause of death in up to 10% of SIDS cases (Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics;

Saunders 1992).

Thankfully, in most instances of infant botulism, the amount of toxin is so

incredibly minuscule that the case remains mild. For this reason it is often

misdiagnosed.

The first symptom of infant botulism is constipation (which is also a common

benign finding in many infants). This can appear 3 to 30 days following

ingesting spore-containing honey (The AAP Red Book, 2000). Typically, the

parents then observe increasing listlessness, decreased appetite, and weakened

cry over the next several days. Nursing mothers often report new engorgement.

Sometimes this is the full extent of the disease. If the disease progresses,

however, the child moves less and less and might begin to drool from the mouth.

Gagging and sucking reflexes diminish. Loss of previous head control is also an

important sign. Complete respiratory arrest can occur either suddenly or

gradually.

If an otherwise healthy baby develops constipation, followed by weakness and

difficulty in sucking, crying, or breathing, then infant botulism should be

considered the most likely diagnosis until proven otherwise.

When infant botulism is diagnosed, the average Intensive Care Unit stay for

the baby is about one month, typically including mechanical ventilation and

continuous tube feedings. This is followed by another 2 weeks on the hospital

ward, with a total hospital cost often exceeding $100,000 (Pediatrics; Feb

1991). Thankfully if the botulism is correctly diagnosed and the baby receives

appropriate supportive care, almost all will recover fully and completely. The

fatality rate for babies who have been hospitalized with botulism is less than

1%. Recently, an antitoxin for infant botulism has been developed and shown to

reduce hospital days, mechanical ventilation, and tube feedings (The AAP Red

Book, 2000).

The single most effective way to prevent infant botulism is for infants to

avoid honey. Breast feeding also appears to lessen the severity of botulism

cases.

Despite other health benefits, honey is an unsafe food for any infant. HONEY

SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN TO CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 12 MONTHS.

Breast feeding, though, is a great way to prevent or decrease allergy

symptoms. Breast feeding and minimizing your daughter's being exposed to

potential allergens (such as cigarette smoke, cat hair, house dust, etc.) are

the best ways to serve your goals of reducing her allergies and her allergy

symptoms. These measures will benefit your daughter now, and the benefit will

last for years to come.

 

Alan Greene MD FAAP

June 02, 1997 Reviewed by Khanh-Van Le-Bucklin MD March 2006

 

 

[Guest guest]

Once the child is over a year,it is ok to consume honey?why is

12months the end of the danger zone?That was a great source of

imfo.Alot of things I never knew about.I always knew honey was bad

for babies but never thought to ask why...my daughter is 2 1/2...its

ok now right?

 

, Julie Merlich

<cruisintheseas wrote:

>

> This is NOT an old wives tale. You should never feed a baby honey

>

> The concern is with infant botulism.

> Botulinum spores are found widely in soil, dust, and honey.

Adults who swallow botulinum spores are almost never affected. When

infants swallow the spores, however, the spores can germinate in

their immature gastrointestinal tracts and begin producing botulinum

toxin. This has occurred even when the honey was only used to

[Guest guest]

After the age of one year, the child has established normal intestinal flora and

honey is safe to eat. But, you also have to consider that honey is sugar and

should be given in limited quantities

Julie