Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.
1
Is any of this happening now?
Call 911
Call emergency services if a baby:
Is struggling to breathe or has pauses in breathing
Has blue, grey, or unusually pale lips or skin
Cannot swallow or repeatedly chokes on saliva or milk
Is very difficult to wake
Becomes suddenly much weaker or stops moving normally
Other emergency signs, for anyone
Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
2
Is any of this happening?
Be seen today
Infant botulism requires urgent medical assessment because weakness can progress and affect breathing.
Seek urgent medical care now if a baby has constipation together with poor feeding, a weak cry, reduced facial expression, poor head control, or unusual floppiness.
Do not wait for several symptoms to appear or for constipation to resolve.
Contact the follow-up team sooner for declining feeding, poor weight gain, worsening constipation, reduced movement, or loss of a skill the baby had regained.
3
Does any of this apply?
Book an appointment
After hospital discharge, attend routine follow-up appointments even when recovery seems to be going well.
Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Infant botulism. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.