Infant Botulism

Infant botulism is a very serious illness. Bacteria occasionally present in honey produce toxins inside a baby’s intestines, so the NHS advises not giving honey to a child until they are over 1 year old. For eczema, this matters because honey is promoted as a topical remedy. The rule is about swallowing honey, but babies easily lick or eat honey smeared on their face and hands.

Connections

• Manuka Honey — oral honey forbidden under 12 months; topical honey can be ingested, source: NHS