Tomato flu

Source: the IndianExpress

Context:

As cases of tomato flu were reported from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, and Odisha, the Health Ministry on Tuesday issued guidelines on prevention, testing, and treatment.
According to some reports, tomato flu could be an aftereffect of chikungunya or dengue fever in children.
It could also be a new variant of the viral hand, foot and mouth disease, a common infectious disease targeting mostly children aged 1-5 years, which is immunocompromised adults.
India recorded around 100 cases of tomato flu which is a highly contagious yet non-life threatening virus.

HFMD:

Tomato flu is characterized by fever, joint pain, and red tomato-like rashes which are usually seen in children 10 years of age and less.
Researches believe that these symptoms could be of a hand, foot and mouth disease caused by enteroviruses-virus that are transmitted through the intestine.
The current HFMD cases are mainly caused by the enterovirus Coxsackievirus A-6, A-16.
Another pathogen, Enterovirus 71, which causes a disease that is not prevalent now.
Specific origin, type or cause of the infection is not mentioned.

Tomato Flu :

As far its etymology is concerned, the tomato flu is so named because of the eruption of red & painful blisters throughout the body that gradually enlarge to the size of a tomato.
Medical experts took strong exception to this, saying that the usage of such terms is unscientific & misleading.
It was also clarified that infection is not related to the consumption of tomatoes in any way.

Spreading :

As the disease is self-limiting, doctors do not usually test for it.
There are so many viral infections in children and there is no need to test for each & every one.
More viral infections were reported because testing for viral infections has increased over the last five years.
The pandemic gave a further push to such surveillance.
Another explanation could be that schools have re-opened fully after the pandemic.

Clinical Presentation :

The Ministry clarified that the virus causing tomato flu is not related to SARS-CoV-2, monkeypox, dengue or chikungunya despite symptoms similar to those in viral infections.
In a small number of cases, tomato flu can lead to CNS(Central Nervous System) complications.
The disease in this outbreak has some atypical presentations: the red tomato rashes, traditionally restricted to the mouth, palms, and soles are now being reported on the buttocks and shedding of nails is also observed.
The rashes can be distinguished from that of Monkeypox by a visual inspection monkeypox rashes are more deep-rooted and distribution is also different.
HFMD can be diagnosed by observing the symptoms, especially the red rashes.
Infants and young children are also prone to this infection through the use of Napier’s, touching unclean surfaces as well as putting things directly into the mouth.
The illness usually begins with a mild fever, poor appetite, malaise, and sore throat.
Small red blisters appear one or two days after the fever and these sores are usually located on the tongue, gums, inside of cheeks, palms, and soles.
In some cases, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration, swelling of joints, body aches & common influenza-like symptoms were noted.

Treatment & Prevention :

No specific treatment or vaccine is available for the disease.
Those with the infection are treated symptomatically, like a prescription of paracetamol for fever.
As per the advisory, anyone suspected to have the infection should remain in isolation for 5-7 days after the onset of symptoms.
Children must be educated about the infection and asked not to hug or touch the children with fever or rashes.
They should be encouraged to maintain hygiene, not suck their thumb, and fingers & use a handkerchief for running nose.
Infected children should be isolated, and their utensils, clothing and bedding must be regularly sanitized.
They must be kept hydrated, and blisters must be cleaned using warm water.

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