“Tomato flu is reported to be endemic in India.” This disease is caused by a virus similar to the hand, foot, and mouth disease known as the tomato virus. “

Recently, a new virus was discovered in India that attacks children. This virus causes a disease called tomato flu or tomato fever which triggers various health complaints in children . For example, fever until a red rash appears.

In addition to causing symptoms that can cause discomfort, this disease is also a highly contagious disease. It is better to find out more about the causes and other symptoms of this disease so that mothers can take precautions in their children. Come on, see the review here!

Contents

Causes of Tomato Flu in Children

The disease was first discovered in Kollam, Kerala on May 6, 2022. As of July 26, 2022, 82 children under the age of five have been diagnosed with this disease.

Tomato flu can develop due to chikungunya disease or dengue fever that has been experienced by children before. The virus also almost resembles a new variant of the virus that causes Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease ( HFMD ).

Some children with tomato flu are known to experience some symptoms, such as:

Very high fever.
Have a red rash on the skin.
Pain in some parts of the joint.
Fatigue.
Nausea and vomiting.
Dehydration.
Diarrhea.
Sneeze.
Runny nose.
Cough.
Stomach cramps.

As symptoms develop, the rash experienced by children can cause skin irritation. In addition, as the name implies, this disease can trigger the appearance of bumps on the skin that can break with a red base like a tomato. This can trigger blisters on the skin that resemble smallpox.

So, what causes the emergence of tomato flu? Launching from The Lancet , some children who experience these symptoms undergo serological examinations to determine the cause of the health complaints they are experiencing. The results show that exposure to tomato virus infection in children causes symptoms associated with this disease.

Tomato Flu Treatment and Prevention

Tomato flu is a disease that is almost similar to Chikungunya, so the treatment is almost the same as the disease. In addition to using drugs that can be used to reduce symptoms, people with tomato flu also need to take treatment so that their symptoms get better.

Well, the following treatments can be done by parents when their child has tomato flu:

Increase children’s rest time.
Meet fluid needs.
Give children healthy foods, such as fruit and vegetables.
Routinely clean the house where the children play.
Encourage children to be diligent in keeping their hands clean.
Prevent your child from scratching the itchy area or rash.
Invite the child to take a bath or soak using warm water.

Children who have tomato flu should self-isolate at home. Self-isolation should be carried out 5 to 7 days after symptoms appear. This is done to prevent the spread of the disease to other children.

Tomato flu is also a highly contagious disease. Spread can be through direct contact, touching objects exposed to the tomato virus, and touching the eyes, nose, or mouth before washing hands.

Although many are found in children, this does not mean that this disease cannot attack adults. For that, make sure you also take care of your health so that your immunity can run optimally.