| What is Tomato Fever? |
| Causes: What the Experts have to Say on Tomato Fever |
| Tomato Fever and Its Common Symptoms |
| Precautions and Prevention of Tomato Fever Outburst |
| Treatment of Tomato Fever |
| Conclusion |
In the month of May 2022, India’s first case of tomato fever was reported in Kerala and then spread to other parts of the country. Other majorly affected regions include Odisha and Tamil Nadu. The Kerala Health Department is continuously monitoring the spread of tomato fever to prevent that from happening in other parts of India. The Lancet Medical Journal, in August 2022, claimed that the virus has reached the endemic stage. Endemic stage means that the virus is confined to limited geographical areas, South Indian states in this case, and the outbreak is consistently present but with predictable spread rates.
What is Tomato Fever?
The viral disease, tomato fever, also known as tomato flu, starts with an unexplained fever in youngsters below 5 years of age. Blisters with profound redness form and spread throughout the body including hand, foot, and mouth. Their resemblance to tomatoes justifies the name ‘tomato fever’.
The virus, while being highly contagious, may not be fatal. Primary schools, playgrounds, or child care centres may be the common clusters for high spread rate of the disease.
Causes: What the Experts have to Say on Tomato Fever
No exact cause of the viral fever had been found for the disease. Some medical experts also suggest that tomato fever is an after-effect of diseases spread through mosquito bites like dengue fever or chikungunya. However, some experts may claim that if it is not controlled, it can spread among adults too.
Some researchers believe that it is a rare kind of viral infection caused by enteroviruses A71 (EV-A71) and that it is a new variant of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD).
Tomato Fever and Its Common Symptoms
Other than blisters and boils, or flu like symptoms, there can be several tomato fever symptoms that may indicate that an individual may be infected with the same:
- Fever without a known origin
- Rashes and irritation on skin
- Dehydration
- Nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting
- Drowsiness
- Swelling in joints
- Fatigue, aches, and pains in multiple parts of the body (specifically abdomen)
- Infection (runny nose, cough, frequent sneezing)
- Changes in skin tone on legs or hands
- Some infected individuals may also experience that there are some kind of worms present in their blisters
Molecular and antibody tests are recommended for individuals (particularly children) suffering from these symptoms. The possible diagnoses other than tomato fever can be dengue fever, chikungunya, zika virus, and herpes.
Precautions and Prevention of Tomato Fever Outburst
Following points should be kept in mind:
1. Emergency medical help should be sought in case any of the above-listed symptoms are noticed.
2. Social distancing should be followed by those at risk of tomato fever since it is highly contagious. Infected individuals should also avoid scratching their blisters and touching other surfaces since this may increase the risk of transmission.
3. Proper hygiene and cleanliness should be maintained and the surroundings should be regularly cleaned and sanitised.
4. Children should be taught to avoid sharing their belongings like toys, lunch boxes, or clothes, and to not touch their eyes, mouth, nose, or face without any reason.
While the individuals are supposed to take care of these things, the government as well as medical authorities too should focus on creating awareness about the disease, possible causes, symptoms, precautions for prevention, list of specialised medical experts to consult and other important information among the general public.
Treatment of Tomato Fever
Tomato fever is a self-limiting disease, however, consultation with a doctor never goes wrong. Seeking tomato fever treatment can help cure the disease faster and may also help prevent it from turning into something serious.
Individuals infected with the viral disease should practise isolation for 5-7 days from the onset of symptoms and should have appropriate rest. Proper protocols should be followed to sanitise the infected individual’s belongings, including clothes, utensils, and other items.
Caution should be ensured when dealing with blisters. The same should be allowed to subside on their own instead of bursting them since the fluid present is highly contagious.
Your doctor may prescribe paracetamol for fever, body pain, and other aches as well as general discomfort. It is also suggested to increase fluid intake to help overcome dehydration.
Mouth soreness can be prevented by steering clear of diets with spicy or salty food. Blisters inside the mouth can be treated via warm saline gargles.
No preventive vaccinations are available for tomato fever treatment as of now. The first seven days when suffering from tomato fever are the most severe in terms of the symptoms listed above and the risk of transmission of the disease from one individual to another is also the highest.
Conclusion
Parents should ensure that habits of proper hygiene and sanitation are acquired by their kids as they develop. This is essential not only for the prevention of the spread of tomato fever but also for other diseases and general health.
Vaccination and drug repurposing may be the most effective measure against viral infections. However, no such measures have been made available yet for the cure of tomato fever.
Names like tomato fever and tomato flu may cause confusion among the general public and may also be misleading, causing people to believe that the same is generated via consumption of tomatoes.
