Infant botulism occurs in infants younger than one year and can cause a potentially life-threatening, progressive paralysis that typically requires hospitalization.
November 20, 2025
high
medical
Describes the age group affected and typical clinical severity of infant botulism.
Infants aged 12 months and under are at highest risk for severe pertussis complications and hospitalization; infants may not produce the classic 'whoop' and can instead experience breathing difficulty or pauses in breathing (apnea).
November 13, 2025
high
risk
Age-based risk profile and atypical presentation in young infants.
Whooping cough is especially dangerous for infants under one year of age; among infants who require hospitalization for pertussis, about 20% develop pneumonia and about 1% die.
October 01, 2025
high
temporal
Severity and complications of pertussis in infants.
Infants younger than one year are particularly vulnerable to botulism because their gut microbiomes are not developed enough to prevent environmental spores from germinating and producing toxin.
high
medical
Age-related vulnerability and mechanism
Whooping cough poses the greatest risk to infants under one year old: many infants require hospitalization, about 20% of hospitalized infants develop pneumonia, and about 1% of hospitalized infants die; the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that pregnant women receive a Tdap vaccine during every pregnancy so maternal antibodies pass to the baby.
high
statistic
Severity of pertussis in infants and a preventive maternal vaccination recommendation.