What is tomato flu? Who does it affect?

What is the News?

Tamil Nadu has ramped up surveillance at its borders in the wake of “tomato flu” cases being detected in Kerala.

What is Tomato Flu?

Tomato Flu got its name from the tomato-shaped blisters it causes on the body.

Vulnerable Population: The flu is affecting children below the age of five in Kerala.

Symptoms: The affected child can get blisters, high fever, body ache, joint swelling and fatigue.

Transmission: Like other cases of flu, tomato fever is also contagious. If someone is infected with this flu, they need to be kept in isolation as this could spread rapidly from one person to another.

Treatment: This flu is a self-limiting one and there is no specific drug for this. This means that the symptoms will resolve over time on their own if supportive care is given.

Source: The post is based on the article “What is tomato flu? Who does it affect?” published in Indian Express on 11th May 2022.