Tomato Flu: What Is It and What Do You Need to Know?

Tomato Flu: In India, a new virus known as tomato flu or tomato fever is spreading and generating a number of symptoms that are comparable to COVID-19, such as fever, exhaustion, and body aches.

The name of the virus comes from a distinctive sign that is absent from COVID: itchy, bright red blisters that spread throughout the body and can eventually enlarge to the size of a tomato. According to an article published in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine on August 17, even though the virus is uncommon, at least 100 cases have been reported in India since the initial case was discovered in the state of Kerala on May 6.

The Lancet research states that there have been no fatalities associated with tomato flu to date.

Scientists and public health officials are still looking into the recent wave of cases, which included 82 instances recorded in children under the age of five in neighborhood hospitals in Kerala and an additional 26 cases in children between the ages of one and nine in Tamil Nadu, a neighboring state.

According to the study, scientists are still looking into the origin of this enticingly titled pediatric sickness, which has traits in common with a number of other more widespread pediatric illnesses.

According to Vivek Chavda and colleagues from the L.M. College of Pharmacy in Gujarat, India, "tomato flu could be an after-effect of chikungunya or dengue fever in children rather than a viral infection," they reported in the Lancet. The virus may also be a new strain of the viral hand, foot, and mouth disease, which primarily affects children and adults with impaired immune systems between the ages of 1 and 5 years old.

After ruling out other possible sources of the sickness, the cases in India are being identified.

This is due to the fact that similar to many other viral diseases, such as influenza, children with tomato fever may experience exhaustion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, dehydration, swelling of the joints, and body aches.

Dengue, a mosquito-borne infection that is particularly harmful to newborns and pregnant women, can cause all these symptoms.

Similar to chikungunya, another virus spread by mosquitoes, the symptoms of tomato flu can include high fever, rashes, and excruciating joint pain.

According to the Lancet article, diagnostic tests are currently used to rule out dengue, chikungunya, Zika, varicella zoster, and herpes before tomato flu cases in India are discovered.

According to the Lancet, the recommended course of treatment is identical to that given to small children who have dengue and chikungunya: plenty of fluids, relaxation, and hot water sponge baths to soothe itchy rashes. Additionally, fever-reducing drugs like acetaminophen or ibuprofen may be administered to children.

The suggested isolation duration is between five and seven days due to the high contagiousness of tomato flu. Other measures to stop the virus's transmission include washing your hands frequently and avoiding sharing toys, food, or clothing with sick people.

According to the Lancet, the virus can also spread when people come into contact with dirty diapers or unclean surfaces, or when kids put contaminated objects in their mouths.