One mom is speaking out amid an ongoing investigation into an infant botulism outbreak that has led to a nationwide infant formula recall.
Hanna Everett said her 4-month-old daughter Piper developed symptoms after consuming ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula.
"I mean, you just feel helpless," Everett told ABC News.
According to Everett, Piper was hospitalized with infant botulism on Saturday after her family noticed she wasn't eating or sleeping well.
"We'd seen the recall, and you know ... in my gut, I was like, yeah, we need to take her [to the hospital]," Everett said. "Her gag reflex was not intact. It's like, it becomes paralyzed."
Botulism is a rare but serious illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The illness is caused by the botulinum toxin and can cause nerve damage, leading to visual disturbances, trouble swallowing, and speech issues, which can be difficult to detect in infants. Some more serious symptoms that occur after the illness has progressed include difficulty breathing, muscle weakness and paralysis, and, in some cases, death.
Infant botulism occurs when a baby swallows Clostridium botulinum spores, which can then grow in the gut and produce the botulinum toxin, the agency states.
Early symptoms of infant botulism can include constipation, poor feeding, a weak cry and loss of head control. Other symptoms may also include pupils that are slow to react to light, drooping eyelids, fewer facial expressions than usual or low muscle tone.
"It can take a few days to weeks in order to start to become symptomatic, and so we may see more cases, even though ... families are going to stop using that product," pediatrician Dr. Natasha Burgert told ABC News.
At least 15 infants in 12 states have been hospitalized so far amid the botulism outbreak, and all 15 were identified to have been fed ByHeart's recalled infant formula, according to the CDC and Food and Drug Administration.
ByHeart first initiated a voluntary recall of two batches of its Whole Nutrition Infant Formula on Nov. 8, after being notified by the FDA of a broader investigation into a recent infant botulism outbreak.
On Tuesday this week, the company said it was expanding that earlier recall to include all batches of its ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula cans and Anywhere Pack single-serve sticks nationwide, stating that it would test every batch of formula with a third-party laboratory.
ByHeart said at the time that it was partnering with the FDA on the recall expansion "despite the fact that no unopened ByHeart product has tested positive for Clostridium botulinum spores or toxin."
"We worked with a third-party accredited laboratory to conduct testing on our product. We've also openly invited FDA and CDC into our facilities to do a comprehensive inspection, as well as test ByHeart's product," ByHeart Chief Medical Officer Dr. Devon Kuehn told ABC News this week.
No deaths related to the botulism outbreak have been reported.
Everett said in her daughter's case, early detection was key.
"She's gonna make a full recovery," Everett said. "They said we just got very lucky to catch it as early as we did and that she's done as well as she has and that she got the medication as soon as she did."
ByHeart is advising anyone with recalled infant formula to stop using the product and dispose of it. ByHeart and the CDC also recommend seeking immediate medical care for any infant who may be exhibiting any symptoms related to infant botulism.
