Friday, April 18, 2025
In the last few months, India has witnessed a surge in Tomato Flu or Tomato Fever cases across the states. It started with a few cases in the Kollam district of Kerala on 6th May 2022 and has now crossed a new hundred cases in the country. Let’s discover some more important facts about the same directly from Dr. Zulfaqar Murtaza.
Dr. Zulfaqar Murtaza is a Pediatrician and Neonatologist at Kurji Holy Family Hospital, Patna, Bihar. For the past 13 years, he has been working in this field.
Tomato flu
Tomato flu is like red painful blisters that gradually enlarge to the size of a tomato. The cases of tomato fever are increasing multi fold. It is a mild viral infection caused by the coxsackie A 16 virus. The exact reason is still unknown. The presentation is more like dengue fever and chikungunya.
Tomato flu symptoms
It is more common in children aged 1-10 years and below. It shows symptoms like
- High-grade fever
- Body ache
- Vomiting
- Painful blisters all over the body
- Diarrhea
- Itching
- Cough and cold
- Joint pain
Preventing tomato flu
- Keeping the child isolated for at least 7 days.
- Proper sanitation and vaccination also provide protection against tomato flu.
- No long-term complications have been associated with it.
Warning signs for tomato flu
If cough and cold persist for long and subsequently cause respiratory-related problems, then it might cause major complications. In this case. Parents must take their children to doctors without any delay.
FAQs
1. Is tomato flu life-threatening?
No cases have been seen of so.
2. Is tomato flu contagious?
It is too contagious in immunocompromised children or adults,
3. Are adults also at risk of contracting tomato flu?
If the adult’s immunity is compromised, they are at higher risk of contracting the viral disease.
(Edited by Renu Gupta)
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