What is the “Tomato Flu” outbreaking in India?
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What is the “Tomato Flu” outbreaking in India?
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What is the “Tomato Flu” outbreaking in India?
According to a report by “India Today” on the 21st, in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pneumonia epidemic, India has recently reported more than 80 cases of “tomato flu” in a row.
In addition, cases of monkeypox that are prevalent in many parts of the world have also appeared in India, and the country’s health and epidemic prevention is under pressure.
The exact cause is unknown
“Tomato flu” or “tomato fever” is a rare viral disease. The name “tomato flu” comes from the tomato-like blisters that appear on children’s bodies.
Symptoms include high fever, nausea, diarrhea, dehydration, swollen joints and body aches.
“Tomato flu” is highly contagious, and the main infective population is children under the age of 5 with low immunity.
Tomato flu is an unspecified type of fever, and the exact cause of the illness is unknown.
It is currently considered a rare viral infection. Although its symptoms are similar to Covid-19, tomato flu is not related to Covid-19.
Some experts suspect that the disease is related to Chikungunya or dengue fever, a sequelae of mosquito-borne diseases;
others believe that the disease may be related to hand, foot and mouth disease caused by coxsackie virus. The exact cause of the disease still needs to be confirmed by further research results.
Children under 5 years of age are susceptible to tomato flu. Common symptoms include: Blisters: Blisters appear on the palms, soles, inside the mouth, lips, buttocks, elbows, etc., initially as light red patches on the skin, gradually forming a fluid-filled red Blisters, tomato-like; skin irritation, high fever, dehydration, body aches, swollen joints;
in addition to other symptoms such as: discoloration of hands, knees, buttocks, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, cough , runny nose, sneezing.
How to treat and prevent?
There is currently no specific treatment for tomato flu, and the disease can only be treated symptomatically.
But it is self-limiting and symptoms usually subside within ten days, so there is no need to panic. So what should you do when your child is infected?
Contact your doctor immediately, maintain proper hygiene, keep your child from scratching blisters, give your child plenty of water, bath your child with warm water , and give your child proper rest.
Like other flus, tomato flu is contagious.
Therefore, patients infected with tomato flu should be isolated ; keep a distance from infected people, avoid close contact, and do not share toys and clothing;
utensils, clothes and other items used by infected people must be disinfected;
children should be prevented from scratching blisters because contact with ruptured blisters Fluids in can transmit disease; keep children and their surroundings clean.
“Very contagious”
An article published last week in The Lancet said the “tomato flu” virus, a new type of hand, foot and mouth disease, was first detected in Kollam district in the southern Indian state of Kerala.
It has so far spread to Tamil Nadu and Odisha, infecting 82 children, all under the age of five.
Children are at increased risk of exposure to tomato flu because viral infections are common in this age group and can be spread through close contact.
Young children are also susceptible to this infection by using diapers, touching dirty surfaces, and putting things directly in their mouths.
Given the similarity to HFMD, if outbreaks of tomato flu in children are not controlled and prevented, transmission can also spread among adults, with serious consequences.
Isolation should be undertaken for 5-7 days from the onset of symptoms to prevent the spread of infection to other children or adults .
The best solution for prevention is to maintain proper hygiene and sanitize surrounding necessities and the environment, and prevent infected children from sharing toys, clothing, food or other items with other uninfected children.
References:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(22)00300-9/fulltext
https://www.indiatvnews.com/health/tomato-flu-cases-india-kerala-tomato-fever-rare-viral-disease-affecting-children-symptoms-treatment-2022-08-21-801778
What is the “Tomato Flu” outbreaking in India?
(source:internet, reference only)
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