Doctors have sounded the alarm over the emergence of a “new non-life-threatening” virus called tomato flu in children under the age of five. Recently in the Lancet Respiratory Journal, published on August 17, doctors said the flu was first identified in Kerala’s Kollam district on May 6, 2022, and as of July 26, “over 82 children under 5 years of age”. Local government hospitals have reported the infection.
It further said that this endemic viral disease has put the neighboring states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka on alert. Additionally 26 children (aged 1-9 years) have been reported to have the disease in Odisha by the Regional Medical Research Center in Bhubaneswar.
“As of today, apart from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Odisha, no other region in India has been affected by the virus. However, precautionary measures are being taken by the Health Department of Kerala to monitor the spread of the viral infection and prevent its spread to other parts of India.
The primary symptoms seen in children with tomato flu are similar to those of chikungunya, including high fever, rash, and severe joint pain. Like other viral infections, other symptoms include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, joint swelling, body aches, and common influenza-like symptoms, similar to those seen in dengue.
Since the 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 warm water sponges to relieve irritation and rashes. Fever and body aches require supportive therapy of paracetamol and other symptomatic therapy.
The Lancet notes that similar to other types of influenza, tomato flu is highly contagious and children are at increased risk of exposure to tomato flu because viral infections are common in this age group and are likely to spread through close contact. .
Young children also become victims of this infection by using nappies, touching unclean surfaces and putting things directly in the mouth. Given the similarity of hand, foot and mouth disease, the report said, if tomato flu outbreaks in children are not controlled and prevented, there could be serious consequences for spreading to adults as well.
“Tomato flu” is caused by Coxsackie virus A16. It belongs to the enterovirus family. Hand-foot-and-mouth-disease (HFMD) is a recurrent febrile illness of childhood caused by enteroviruses (EVs) Coxsackie A16 (CA16), EV A71, Coxsackie A6, Coxsackie B and Echo Virus,” said Dr. Suresh. Kumar Panuganti, Pediatrician, Yashoda Hospital Hyderabad.
(This story has not been edited by seemayo staff and is published from a rss feed)