What is Tomato Flu? Early Symptoms & Preventive
The virus could be a new variant of the viral hand, foot, and mouth disease or an after effect of Dengue or Chickengunya targeting mostly children aged 1–5 years and immunocompromised adults. The primary symptoms observed in children with tomato flu are similar to those of chikungunya, which include high fever, rashes, and intense pain in joints.
Tomato flu gained its name on the basis of the eruption of red and painful blisters throughout the body especially on hands and legs that gradually enlarge to the size of a tomato. These blisters resemble those seen with the monkeypox virus in young individual. Rashes also appear on the skin with tomato flu that lead to skin irritation. As with other viral infections, further symptoms include, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, dehydration, swelling of joints, body aches, and common influenza-like symptoms, which are similar to those manifested in dengue.
There are no specific diagnostic tests for Tomato flu as complete blood picture resembles regular viral infection with low Leukocyte count(WBC) and platelet count on lower side of normal range. Tomato flu is a self-limiting illness and no specific drug exists to treat it symptomatic treatment with Paracetamol, Good fluids,Tepid sponging should be enough.
Similar to other types of influenza, tomato flu is very contagious. Hence, it is mandatory to follow careful isolation of confirmed or suspected cases and other precautionary steps to prevent the outbreak of the tomato flu virus.
Dr. Suman Kumar
Consultant Pediatrician
Ankura hospital/Aviclinics
Hyderabad
