Tomato flu is a extremely contagious
The emergence of a uncommon, new viral an infection afflicting younger youngsters has prompted well being authorities in India to situation a well being advisory after greater than 100 circumstances have been found within the nation.
Tomato flu — so referred to as because of the painful crimson blisters it produces — has to date been detected in 82 youngsters aged underneath 5 within the state of Kerala, the place the primary case was detected on Might 6.
An extra 26 circumstances have since been reported in neighboring Tamil Nadu state and Odisha within the east, the place youngsters as outdated as 9 have been contaminated.
India’s well being ministry has stated that the virus is non-life-threatening however issued testing and prevention tips to all states this week, urging dad and mom to be further vigilant in checking their youngsters for signs, the Times of India reported.
What’s tomato flu?
Tomato flu is a extremely contagious viral an infection, which spreads through shut contact notably amongst younger youngsters aged underneath 5.
Signs embrace fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, dehydration, swelling of joints, physique aches, and customary influenza-like signs, in addition to the eponymous tomato-like blisters.
Scientists are nonetheless making an attempt to determine the route reason for the virus. Nevertheless, they are saying “it’s not associated to SARS-CoV-2 [Covid-19],” regardless of displaying some comparable signs, in accordance with an article revealed final week in British medical journal The Lancet.
Extra doubtless is that the virus is an after-effect of chikungunya or dengue fever, two viral illnesses transmitted by mosquitos.
Alternatively, it could possibly be a brand new variant of the viral hand, foot, and mouth illness, a standard infectious illness focusing on largely youngsters aged one to 5 years and immunocompromised adults.
Who can catch it and the way?
Youngsters are at elevated danger of publicity to tomato flu as viral infections are widespread on this age group and unfold is prone to be by shut contact.
They’re additionally at notably excessive danger by their use of nappies, touching unclean surfaces, in addition to placing issues straight into the mouth.
Nevertheless, older adults could possibly be put in danger if the outbreak shouldn’t be managed and transmission restricted.
“Given the similarities at hand, foot, and mouth illness, if the outbreak of tomato flu in youngsters shouldn’t be managed and prevented, transmission would possibly result in severe penalties by spreading in adults as effectively,” the Lancet article stated.
Tomato flu is a self-limiting sickness, that means it tends to resolve spontaneously with out remedy.
Nevertheless, well being officers have urged individuals to take precautionary measures to forestall the unfold of the outbreak, together with isolating suspected circumstances for 5 to seven days following the onset of signs.
“The most effective resolution for prevention is the upkeep of correct hygiene and sanitization of the encompassing requirements and setting in addition to stopping the contaminated little one from sharing toys, garments, meals, or different gadgets with different non-infected youngsters,” the Lancet article stated.
