Since May 2022, the southern state of Kerala has witnessed an outbreak of a new viral infection known as ‘tomato flu’. The infection has spread to other states including Tamil Nadu, Haryana, and Odisha. According to the health ministry, till August 2022, there were more than 80 cases reported in children below the age of five years.
Symptoms of Tomato Flu
‘Tomato flu’ or ‘tomato fever’ is characterised by fever, joint pain, body ache, fatigue, and red-coloured tomato-like rashes, usually seen in children below the age of five years. This is accompanied by other symptoms of viral fever such as diarrhoea, dehydration, nausea, and vomiting. The lesions are usually located on the tongue, gums, inside of the cheek, palms and soles, and sometimes shedding of nails. It is also known as the hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). So far, there is no known cause of the disease. It is a rare disease characterised by rashes and blisters all over the body. As the rashes and blisters look similar to tomatoes, the disease is called tomato flu.
Reasons for the Disease
According to a recent study published in the journal The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, tomato flu is considered non-life threatening. It is a self-limiting illness and so far, there are no specific drugs to treat it. Researchers believe that the present disease is a different clinical presentation of HFMD, caused by a group of enteroviruses like Coxsackievirus A-6 and A-16. (Enteroviruses are viruses that are transmitted through the intestine.) The study also stated that tomato flu could be an after-effect of chikungunya or dengue fever in children rather than a viral infection. The disease is targeting mostly children between the age of one and five, along with immunocompromised adults.
According to the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the skin lesions could appear on hands, feet, and buttocks and is spread by contact between young children. According to the scientists of Institute of Advanced Virology, though 99.9 per cent of tomato flu infections are self-limiting, rare cases could lead to central nervous system complications.
Testing and Treatment
Though the symptoms of tomato flu are similar to SARS-CoV2, it is not related to COVID. As the infection is self-limiting, doctors usually do not prescribe for a separate test to confirm the infection. On children showing these symptoms, molecular and serological tests are done for diagnosis of dengue, chikungunya, zika virus, varicella-zoster virus, and herpes. Once these viral infections are ruled out, a diagnosis of tomato flu is considered.
The treatment for tomato flu is similar to that of other viral infections. As of now, there is no specific vaccine or treatment available for this disease. Those with the infection are treated symptomatically, such as prescription of paracetamol, etc. Vigilant management is required to keep the disease at bay.
Precautions
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued an advisory stating that if children develop symptoms of tomato flu, they should be isolated, and their utensils, clothing, and bedding must be regularly sanitised. The infected children must be kept hydrated with plenty of fluid intake, and should be given healthy diet. The blisters caused by the infection must be cleaned with warm water. The ministry also states that children must be educated about the infection, and asked not to hug or touch other children with fever or rashes. They should be encouraged to maintain utmost hygiene to prevent the disease from spreading.
If there is an outbreak, testing should be conducted to take measures. Any respiratory, faecal, or cerebrospinal fluid samples should be collected within 48 hours of the illness.
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