ISLAMABAD, AUG 27 (Online): Ever since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, people have been more concerned than ever about potential disease threats.<\/p>\n
The newest of these is called \u201ctomato flu,\u201d and has affected over 100 children in India, according to a recent correspondence in The LancetTrusted Source.<\/p>\n
The authors report that tomato flu, likely a viral disease, was first identified in the Kollam district of Kerala, India on May 6, 2022.
\nAccording to The Lancet, the disease is considered non-life-threatening and resolves on its own in time.<\/p>\n
The symptoms of tomato flu
\nThe Lancet reports that primary symptoms observed in infected children resemble those of chikungunyaTrusted Source, a mosquito-borne illness, and include high fever, rashes, and intense pain in joints.<\/p>\n
Similar to many viral infections, other symptoms include, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, dehydration, swelling of joints, body aches, and common flu-like symptoms, which resemble those of dengueTrusted Source \u2013 another disease spread by mosquitoes.<\/p>\n
\u201cTransmission is likely to be through close contact,\u201d Hannah Newman, MPH, director of infection prevention at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, told Healthline.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe virus has been named tomato flu on the basis of the red, painful blisters it causes that can mimic the look and size of a tomato,\u201d Newman explained.<\/p>\n
She said while the disease is thought to be non-life threatening, it can cause an uncomfortable rash, fevers, and joint pain.<\/p>\n
Cause is still unknown
\n\u201cWe don\u2019t know exactly what\u2019s causing the disease,\u201d admitted Robert Glatter, MD, an ER physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. \u201cBut it\u2019s possible that it may be a variant of hand foot and mouth disease, or the after-effect of chikungunya or dengue fever, both mosquito-borne diseases.\u201d<\/p>\n
Authors of the Lancet correspondence theorize that this disease might even be a new type of hand, foot, and mouth disease. Hand foot and mouth disease is the result of an enterovirusTrusted Source infection, of which, one of the subtypes includes the coxsackievirus, which also causes a blister-like rash.<\/p>\n
Since it\u2019s a contagious virus, there is potential for this disease to spread beyond India, warned Newman.
\nSimilar to what happened with COVID-19 and monkeypox, routine air travel could carry a new pathogen almost anywhere, and it might start affecting older individuals.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven the similarities to hand, foot, and mouth disease, if the outbreak of tomato flu in children is not controlled and prevented, transmission might lead to serious consequences by spreading in adults as well,\u201d the correspondence authors wroteTrusted Source.<\/p>\n
Transmitted via close contact and surfaces
\n\u201cIt\u2019s also believed to spread by contact with an infected person\u2019s clothing, bedding, towels, sheets, toys, books or other nonporous surfaces, similar to Monkeypox,\u201d said Glatter.<\/p>\n
He added that while the tomato flu virus may be a variant or \u201cafter-effect\u201d of hand foot and mouth disease, there is no evidence the disease is airborne or even droplet spread based on the Lancet report.<\/p>\n
Glatter also believes chikungunya and dengue, both endemic to the region, could place both older adults and young children at risk for the tomato virus.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause their immune systems may not be as robust after recovering from these mosquito-borne viruses,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Glatter confirmed that there is currently no vaccine or antiviral medication available to treat this disease. However, much can be done to relieve someone\u2019s discomfort until the infection resolves.<\/p>\n
\u201cSupportive care including acetaminophen for fever and aches, along with hydration will help patients feel better,\u201d advised Glatter. \u201cWarm compresses may help to alleviate some of the discomfort associated with the painful nature of the rash.\u201d<\/p>\n
What we know about preventing the disease
\nNewman said ways to prevent tomato flu include quick isolation of infected patients and proper hand hygiene.<\/p>\n
She emphasized performing \u201cenvironmental disinfection\u201d of surfaces, toys, clothes, and other items used by sick individuals.
\n\u201cAnd limiting the sharing of these items between other children and adults,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
According to Glatter, what\u2019s concerning is that we don\u2019t know how older patients and those who are immunocompromised will do if they develop the disease.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat said, at this time the risk of spread in the population is quite low, and people in the US should not be overly concerned,\u201d he continued.
\nGlatter cautioned that on a global level, \u201cvigilance is paramount\u201d given what we have just been through with COVID-19, and now monkeypox.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe priority now is to determine whether the tomato virus is even a virus, not to mention a novel virus,\u201d he said. \u201cOr simply a sequela [consequence] of a recent prior infection with a previously well-known and documented virus.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD, AUG 27 (Online): Ever since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, people have been more concerned than ever about potential disease threats. The newest of these is called \u201ctomato flu,\u201d and has affected over 100 children in India, according to a recent correspondence in […]<\/p>\n
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