Botulism Questionnaire (Confirmed or Suspect case)

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Questionnaire background for interviewer

There are three main forms of botulism:

Foodborne:   Results from ingestion of preformed neurotoxin in food or drink.Symptoms may initially include vomiting and/or diarrhea and can be followed by ptosis (drooping eyelids), fixed and dilated pupils, visual disturbance, dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), dry mouth and dysphonia (difficulty speaking). Constipation is common later in presentation.Symptoms may extend to a descending symmetrical flaccid paralysis in an alert afebrile person.  
Intestinal: (infant botulism and adult colonization) Results from ingestion of spores that germinate in the intestine, rather than by ingestion of preformed toxin. Affects infants under the age of one almost exclusively, but can affect adults who have altered gastrointestinal anatomy and microflora (i.e., intestinal surgery, inflammatory bowel disease, exposure to antimicrobial agents). Clinical symptoms in infants start with constipation and may include loss of appetite, generalized weakness, weak cry, weak suck, ptosis, drooling and significant loss of head control.  
Wound: Results when a wound, boil, abscess or inoculation site becomes infected with C. botulinum and toxin is produced.Infection associated with the injection or sniffing of illicit drugs is also classified as wound botulism. Symptoms are similar to foodborne botulism (except usually without vomiting and/or diarrhea).  

This questionnaire is designed to collect comprehensive information on possible risk factors for botulism.  It is intended to investigate cases where the source of infection is unknown.

Data captured: – Case demographics             – Food exposures

                         – Clinical information              – Other risk factors

                         – Laboratory information        

This questionnaire has both an open ended food history followed by a detailed check list of food items; this may seem repetitive but is used to ensure all possible food exposures are captured. Please collect as much details as possible for each item, including restaurant exposures.  Also consider using a calendar to probe and collect receipts, purchase data or loyalty cards if available. The questionnaire is estimated to take 45 – 60 minutes to complete

FOR LOCAL USE ONLY – PLEASE REMOVE THIS PAGE IF SENDING TO PHAC

Case Information:
Case Name: Proxy Name:
Health Card Number: _____________________________________  
Street Address:  ______________________________ City/Town:          ______________________________ Postal Code:      ______________________________ Home phone:       ______________________________ Work phone:        ______________________________ Cell Phone:          ______________________________
Physician: Physician Phone:
Occupation: Place(s) of employment:
Ill Contacts:
Did (you/case) know of anyone else ill with similar symptoms?  o Y   o N   o DK  If yes, can you tell me who?
Name:___________________________________________                  Sex: o M   o F                Phone Number: ___________________________          Relationship to (you/case):________________________________                 Age: ________                Date of onset:  d____ / m____ /  y______
Name:___________________________________________                  Sex: o M   o F                Phone Number: ___________________________          Relationship to (you/case):________________________________                 Age: ________                Date of onset:  d____ / m____ /  y______
Name:___________________________________________                  Sex: o M   o F                Phone Number: ___________________________          Relationship to (you/case):________________________________                 Age: ________                Date of onset:  d____ / m____ /  y______
Section 1. Case Information:
Case Interviewed by: v Date of interview: d____ / m____ /  y______
Health Unit/Authority: Date reported to Health Unit/Authority:   d____ / m____ /  y______
Province/Territory:  
Respondent was: o Case   o Parent   o Spouse   o Caretaker   o Other, specify: ______________________________
Date of birth: d_______ / m_______ /  y________          Age: _______   Sex:  o M    o F                                                                                                                
Provincial Lab ID:   Section 2. Clinical Information:
Specimen type: Specimen collection date: Result: Result date:
o Stool d____ / m____ /  y______   d____ / m____ /  y______
o Blood   d____ / m____ /  y______   d____ / m____ /  y______
o Gastric aspirate  d____ / m____ /  y______   d____ / m____ /  y______
o Other, specify:  _________     d____ / m____ /  y______                                                                                                                               d____ / m____ /  y______
Type of botulism: o A    o B    o E    o F     o Other, specify: ______ Suspect form of botulism:  o Foodborne        o Intestinal       o Wound         o Unknown
Date of first symptom onset: d_______ / m_______ /  y______                    Approximate time of onset:_____________   o AM   o PM
Symptoms :  Nausea  o Y   o N   o DK        Ptosis (droopy eyelids)                                        o Y   o N   o DK        Dry mouth                                                           o Y   o N   o DK       
  Vomiting                                                      o Y   o N   o DK        Blurred vision                                                       o Y   o N   o DK        Dysphonia (hoarseness)                                    o Y   o N   o DK       
  Diarrhea  o Y   o N   o DK        Fixed & dialated pupils                                          o Y   o N   o DK        Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)                        o Y   o N   o DK       
  Constipation     o Y   o N   o DK        Diplopia (double vision) o Y   o N   o DK        Descending, symmetrical, flaccid paralysis o Y   o N   o DK       
  Lethargy o Y   o N   o DK        Loss of head control (infants) o Y   o N   o DK        Weak cry (infants) o Y   o N   o DK       
  Other: o Y   o N   o DK Specify : _________________________________________________________________________
Admitted* to hospital because of the illness?  o Y   o N   o DK *Do not include individuals who visit an emergency room or outpatient clinic Date of admission: d______ / m______ /  y______ Date of discharge: d______ / m______ /  y______ o Still hospitalized
Was antitoxin administered?        o Y   o N   o DK     If yes, date antitoxin given: d____ / m____ /  y______    If yes, number of vials given: _______     




Does the case have underlying gastrointestinal co-morbidities (e.g. GI surgery, IBD, Chrohn’s Disease, diabetes)?  o Y   o N   o DK If yes, specify: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
To be filed out by interviewer Case deceased:       Date of Death: d____ / m____ /  y______                                       If yes, was C. botulinum infection the underlying/contributing cause of death?     o Y   o N   o DK                                       If yes, was determination based on death certificate?                                            o Y   o N   o DK
Section 3: Travel Information
In the 3 days before onset of illness, that is from d____/m_____/y_____ through d____/m____/y____, did (you/case) travel within or outside of Canada?                 o Y   o N   o DK
             If yes: o Within Province/Territory   o Other Province(s)/Territory(ies)   o Outside Canada
             Specify travel destination(s) (country/town/resort):
             Departure:   d____ / m____ /  y______                        Return:   d____ / m____ /  y______
Section 4. Special Diets or Food Preferences:
Are (you/case) a vegetarian?   o Y   o N   o DK    If yes, do (you/case) ever eat:      Eggs     o Y   o N   o DK        Dairy         o Y   o N   o DK        Fish             o Y   o N o DK                                                                          Poultry  o Y   o N   o DK        Red meat  o Y   o N   o DK       Other Meat  o Y   o N o DK                                                                                                                                                                                   If yes, specify: ________________
Are (you/case) allergic to any foods ?   o Y   o N   o DK    If yes, specify which foods:
Are there any foods/food groups that (you/case) never eat?   o Y   o N   o DK    If yes, describe:
In the 3 days prior to illness, were (you/case):               On a special or restricted diet? (e.g. raw food diet, vegan, diabetic diet, kosher, halal)                                    o Y   o N   o DK    If yes, describe: ____________________________________________________________________________               Taking a dietary or nutritional supplement? (e.g. meal replacements, protein powder, vitamins, herbs)                      o Y   o N   o DK    If yes, describe: ____________________________________________________________________________
Section 5. Social Gatherings:
Did (you/case) attend any social gatherings in the 3 days prior to illness onset? o Y   o N   o DK    (Note, social gatherings include weddings, parties, potlucks, religious events, community events, conferences, etc)  If yes, complete information below:
Event names/location/description: Date of gathering(s)  Are you aware of anyone else who became ill with diarrhea following the gathering?
  d____ / m____ /  y______ to   d____ / m____ /  y______ o Y   o N   o DK, if Yes, number ill? _______
  d____ / m____ /  y______  to   d____ / m____ /  y______ o Y   o N   o DK, if Yes, number ill? _______
  d____ / m____ /  y______ to   d____ / m____ /  y______ o Y   o N   o DK, if Yes, number ill? _______
  d____ / m____ /  y______ to   d____ / m____ /  y______ o Y   o N   o DK, if Yes, number ill? _______
 Notes:    
Section 6. Food Establishments outside the home
In the 3 days prior to illness onset did (you/case) eat at any of the following food establishments? (including food taken from a restaurant and eaten at home and samples eaten at establishments such as grocery stores)? We will ask you about what you ate later in this questionnaire.
Food Establishment   Name(s) Date(s) Location(s)
Restaurant or Bar oY oN  oDK      
Fast Food chain restaurant oY oN  oDK      
Coffee Shop or Bakery oY  oN  oDK      
Cafeteria or food served at an institution (University, hospital, workplace etc.) oY  oN  oDK      
Street Vendor / Concession Stand oY  oN  oDK      
Ready to eat from Gas Stations/Convenience Stores oY  oN  oDK      
Ready to eat from Grocery Store (including samples) oY  oN  oDK      
Other  If yes, specify: ___________ oY  oN  oDK      
Section 7. Home Food Purchases:
Where did (you/case) usually purchase food for home consumption (include grocery stores, farmers markets, specialty stores, ethnic markets, food banks etc)? Interviewer note: *Consent form for collecting loyalty card information is available from your provincial/territorial health authourity or PHAC 
Store Name Location/Address
A Loyalty card?  o Y   o N   o DK Loyalty card #: ____________________________                                                        
B Loyalty card?  o Y   o N   o DK Loyalty card #: ____________________________    
C Loyalty card?  o Y   o N   o DK Loyalty card #: ____________________________    
D Loyalty card?  o Y   o N   o DK Loyalty card #: ____________________________    
E Loyalty card?  o Y   o N   o DK Loyalty card #: ____________________________    
Section 7A. Online Food Purchases:
In the 3 days prior to illness onset did (you/case) consume food/supplements purchased over the internet: o Yes   o No If yes please provide details:
 Type / Variety / Brand Specify store name/website
   
Section 8: Three Day Food History
I’d like to talk to you about the foods/drinks (you/case) consumed before (you/case) got sick. Starting with the day (you/case) were first developed symptoms: (Interviewer note: please probe regarding where foods were eaten and how prepared, e.g. prepared and eaten at home, eaten at a restaurant, take-out, ready-to-eat meal, frozen dinner, etc)
Day of illness   d____ / m____ /  y______  o M  o T  o W  o Th  o F  o Sat  o Sun
Breakfast   Lunch  Dinner   Snacks
       
       
       
       
1 day before illness   d____ / m____ /  y______  o M  o T  o W  o Th  o F  o Sat  o Sun
Breakfast   Lunch  Dinner   Snacks
       
       
       
       
2 days before illness   d____ / m____ /  y______  o M  o T  o W  o Th  o F  o Sat  o Sun
Breakfast   Lunch  Dinner   Snacks
       
       
       
       
3 days before illness   d____ / m____ /  y______  o M  o T  o W  o Th  o F  o Sat  o Sun
Breakfast   Lunch  Dinner   Snacks
       
       
       
       
Additonal Exposures for infants (less than 1 year) ONLY: In the 4 weeks before illness, did  the baby have any of the following exposures:
Breast milk oY oP oN oDK    
Formula oY oP oN oDK    
Cow’s milk oY oP oN oDK    
Dry infant cereal oY oP oN oDK    
Honey oY oP oN oDK    
Jarred baby food oY oP oN oDK    
Home-prepared baby food oY oP oN oDK    
Cookies/biscuits oY oP oN oDK    
Camomile or other herbal remedies             (e.g. homeopathic teething remedies) oY oP oN oDK    
Other       If yes, specify:___________ oY oP oN oDK    
Section 9: Food Exposures
INSTRUCTIONS TO READ TO CASE I am interested in the food (you/case) ate during the 3 days before (your/case) illness onset date; that is from d____/m_____/y_____ through d____/m____/y____.  For each food item please give me your best guess as to whether (you/case) ate the food, you’re not sure but you probably ate the food, or you did not eat the food. Please include food eaten on their own, or as part of a salad, sandwich, or dish.   INSTRUCTIONS FOR INTERVIEWER For each food item that the case consumed ask follow up questions regarding the brand, location of purchase. Please select an answer for each question or indicate if question not asked
  Yes Prob No DK IMPORTANT: Please complete in as much detail as possible Type/Variety/Brand Where purchased or eaten Specify grocery store or restaurant name
Canned Goods
Any homemade canned food       If yes, please specify type(s) below oY oP oN oDK    
Meat If yes, specify:___________________ oY oP oN oDK    
Vegetable If yes, specify:___________________ oY oP oN oDK    
Fruit If yes, specify:___________________ oY oP oN oDK    
Sauce/soup If yes, specify:___________________ oY oP oN oDK    
Any flavoured oil (e.g. garlic oil) If yes, specify:___________________ oY oP oN oDK    
Any commercially canned food If yes, please specify type(s) below oY oP oN oDK    
Meat If yes, specify:___________________ oY oP oN oDK    
Vegetable If yes, specify:___________________ oY oP oN oDK    
Fruit If yes, specify:___________________ oY oP oN oDK    
Sauce/soup If yes, specify:___________________ oY oP oN oDK    
Any flavoured oil (e.g. garlic oil) If yes, specify:___________________ oY oP oN oDK    
Other food from a can or jar oY oP oN oDK    
Meat/Seafood
Marine mammal If yes, specify:___________________ oY oP oN oDK    
  Yes Prob No DK IMPORTANT: Please complete in as much detail as possible Type/Variety/Brand Where purchased or eaten Specify grocery store or restaurant name
Any smoked meat or fish If yes, specify:___________________ oY oP oN oDK    
Any fermented meat or fish (including fish eggs) If yes, specify:___________________ oY oP oN oDK    
Other meat/seafood If yes, specify:___________________ oY oP oN oDK    
Other Foods
Foil wrapped baked potatoes oY oP oN oDK    
Peanut butter oY oP oN oDK    
Nut puree, paste, butter or spread (other than peanut butter e.g. almond butter, hazelnut spread, etc.) If yes, specify:__________________ oY oP oN oDK    
Section 10. Risk Factors:
In the 3 days before onset of illness did (you/case):
Have contact with soil (e.g. gardening, etc.)?                                                                                  o Y   oN   o DK Specify:
Have any skin infections or wounds? o Y   oN   o DK Specify:
Inject drugs? o Y   o N   o DK Specify:
Share injection drug use (IDU) equipment? o Y   o N   o DK Specify:
Did you take antibiotics in the month prior to onset?        o Y   o N   o DK Specify:
Infants (less than 1 year) ONLY: In the 4 weeks before illness, did  the baby have the following exposures:
Home renovations o Y   oN   o DK Specify:
Construction around the home (e.g. house is dusty from construction) o Y   oN   o DK Specify:
Close proximity to farms where soil is being disturbed (e.g. house is dusty from land being disturbed) o Y   oN   o DK Specify:
Exposure to reptiles/turtles o Y   oN   o DK Specify:
Section 11. Food Sampes:
Were any food samples collected as part of the case investigation? o Y   oN   o DK  If yes please provide details:   
Food product Details including: Type / Variety / Brand / Lot Result
       
       

Notes/General Comments: