Tomato flu

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

A new infection dubbed tomato flu, or tomato fever, has been detected in India mostly among children younger than five, according to a report in the Lancet Respiratory Journal.

The “non-life-threatening” virus was first identified in Kollam district of Kerala recently.

What is Tomato Flu?

• Tomato flue/fever is a rare contagious disease of viral nature in humans whose origins are not yet known.
• The ‘tomato flu’ is caused by Coxsackie virus A 16. It belongs to Enterovirus family.
• It gets its name from the tomato-shaped red rashes that it causes on the body of infected individuals.
• The flu is said to affect children below five years of age.

• Young children are also prone to this infection through the use of nappies, touching unclean surfaces, and putting things directly into the mouth.

Primary symptoms

• The primary symptoms of tomato flu are similar to those of chikungunya, which include high fever, rashes, and intense pain in the joints. 
• As with other viral infections, further symptoms include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration, swelling of joints, body aches, and common influenza-like symptoms, which are similar to those manifested in dengue.

Treatment

• As tomato flu is similar to chikungunya and dengue as well as hand, foot, and mouth disease.
• The treatment is also similar — isolation, rest, plenty of fluids, and hot water sponge for the relief of irritation and rashes. 
• Supportive therapy of paracetamol for fever and body ache and other symptomatic treatments may be required.

Preventive Measures

• Similar to other types of influenza, tomato flu is very contagious and children are at an increased risk of exposure as viral infections are common in this age group and the spread is likely to be through close contact
• Given the similarities to hand, foot, and mouth disease, if the outbreak of tomato flu in children is not controlled and prevented, the transmission might lead to serious consequences by spreading in adults as well.
• Utensils, clothes, and other items used by the infected persons must be sanitized to prevent the flu from spreading.
• Fluid intake should be increased to counter dehydration.
• Proper screening by the health authorities.