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Texas health officials are asking parents to avoid giving honey to babies if they are less than a year old.>>> See the best hospitals in Houston
Texas health officials are asking parents to avoid giving honey to babies if they are less than a year old.>>> See the best hospitals in Houston
Photo: Mark Makela / Corbis Via Getty Images
>>> See the best hospitals in Houston
>>> See the best hospitals in Houston
Photo: Mark Makela / Corbis Via Getty Images
Texas health officials have warned parents to avoid giving honey to babies, as this could lead to botulism, a rare disease caused by toxins.
Texas State Department Health Services announced Friday that four babies had been hospitalized in recent months due to the disease.
The cause behind the life-threatening hospitalizations was lollipops made of honey.
According to health officials, at the age of 12 months, their bodies can prevent the botulism bacteria from growing and spreading in their digestive system. Until then, avoid giving them honey.
"Botulism is a serious disease caused by a toxin that attacks the nerves of the body and can lead to breathing difficulties, paralysis and even death," DSHS said in a press release. "Honey can contain bacteria that produce the toxin in the intestines of babies who eat it."
In 2018, ten confirmed or suspected cases of botulism have been reported, an increase of seven to eight cases occurring in recent years, said DSHS.
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Fernando Ramirez is a digital journalist for Chron.com and Houstonchronicle.com. Read it on our breaking news site and on our subscriber site. Follow him on Twitter at @ fernramirez93 or write to [email protected].
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