Scientists are still trying to identify exactly what the 'tomato flu' is. It's symptoms are similar to those of COVID-19 and dengue fever, and its blisters ...
Precautionary measures are being taken by the Kerala Health Department to monitor the spread of the viral infection and prevent its spread in other parts of India. "At the moment it is still isolated and doesn't appear to have spread beyond India," Professor Apostolopoulos said. Tomato flu is very contagious. The recommendation is that isolation should be followed for five to seven days from symptom onset to prevent the spread of infection to other children or adults, according to the Lancet. It's been called tomato virus because of the eruption of red and painful blisters throughout the body that can grow as big as a tomato and are red like the fruit. Its symptoms are similar to dengue fever and chikungunya virus, which are common in the area, but it doesn't appear to be them, Victoria University's Vasso Apostolopoulos said.
Cases have been found in kids up to the age of nine, but no adults have yet been diagnosed with the rapidly-spreading virus.
It has been referred to as tomato flu because of the painful red blisters it produces on the body, and it is very contagious. Cases have been found in kids up to the age of nine, but no adults have yet been diagnosed with tomato flu. The data is up to July 26, but cases have now been reported in Tamil Nadu state and in Odisha in the east.
The Centre has issued an advisory to States after a paper in the Lancet's correspondence section warned of a 'tomato flu' outbreak among children in India.
In its communication on Tuesday, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated that the illness is a clinical variant of the hand, foot and mouth disease. - Testing is to be done for the investigation of an outbreak. In a series of tweets, she said the paper had failed to establish some crucial points related to ‘tomato flu’. “It seems the disease is a clinical variant of the so-called hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) that is common in school-going children. They also clarify that the infection is not related to the consumption of tomatoes in any way. Angela Rasmussen has also highlighted the lack of evidence in the report published by The Lancet. They were tested and results showed that they had an enterovirus (EV) infection caused by Coxsackie A16, which is one of the most common EV causes of HFMD in India along with CA6, as per experts.](https://journals.lww.com/pidj/fulltext/9900/kerala_tomato_flu___a_manifestation_of_hand_foot.160.aspx) HFMD is a frequent febrile rash illness of childhood caused by enteroviruses (EV): Coxsackie A16 (CA16), EV A71, Coxsackie A6, Coxsackie B and Echo viruses.” The authors do not mention a specific origin, type or cause of the infection. The report, however, also claims it to be in an endemic state. The transmission of the “highly contagious” yet “non-life threatening virus” could lead to serious consequences by spreading to adults as well, it adds. National Library of Medicine in its Immunity, Inflammation and Disease journal in July says that cases of ‘tomato fever’ [have been reported in the past in 2007](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9274800/).
Also known as tomato fever, this illness has spread through several states in India. We asked experts about what causes it, how it's spreading, ...
Tomato flu is "not serious," Dr. Russo says it has the potential to spread across the world. “The coxsackievirus is worldwide and infectious—and can easily spread,” Dr. As of now, tomato flu does not appear to be life-threatening. “Because these types of infections are caused by ubiquitous viruses that are contagious, it’s not something I expect to see restricted to one geographic region,” he says. Russo says. The illness usually causes fever and flu-like symptoms, mouth sores, and a skin rash, the [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/hand-foot-mouth/about/signs-symptoms.html) says. “However this is not an infectious disease that merits worry.” In the past two years, there have been several variants of the virus that have spread around the globe, along with [monkeypox](https://www.prevention.com/monkeypox/). Adalja, M.D., a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. Here’s what you need to know. [COVID-19](https://www.prevention.com/novel-coronavirus/) pandemic began and fair.
An outbreak of a new viral infection known as 'tomato flu' has been reported in young children across India and causes the body to break out in red and ...
The Union Health Ministry has asked states with cases to increase surveillance and monitor the situation. Those infected with the disease in India are asked to isolate and take plenty of fluids. Promoted Stories The infection causes red, painful blisters to appear on the patient's body which can grow to the size of a tomato, hence the name. What causes Tomato Flu, what are the symptoms and how do you treat it? According to the Lancet Respiratory Medicine, the disease, commonly found in young children, has been reported in 82 kids aged under five in the state of Kerala.
Monkeypox vs Tomato Flu: Like coronavirus and monkeypox, tomato flu too is a viral infection and is said to be a variant of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease ...
The guideline of covid can also be followed for monkeypox and tomato flu," says Dr Gupta. Like [coronavirus ](https://www.hindustantimes.com/topic/coronavirus)and [monkeypox](https://www.hindustantimes.com/health/monkeypox-or-chickenpox-doctors-explain-the-difference-in-symptoms-101659272559707.html), tomato flu too is a viral infection and is said to be a variant of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD). There is no diagnostic test available for tomato flu but we can suspect it basis the symptoms and if no other viral infection is present," says Dr Ravindra Gupta, Department of Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Gurgaon. However, there is no information on the type of virus responsible for tomato flu. The infection can spread through rashes as these are communicable diseases. These can be found in the neck or thighs. It is rare to find rashes on the stomach or legs. The blisters also resemble those seen with the monkeypox virus in young people. Know the difference in symptoms of the two diseases from an expert. Some of its symptoms are similar to Covid, monkeypox, [dengue ](https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/effective-tips-to-avoid-dengue-during-monsoon-101656920783829.html)and chikungunya. [sudden spurt in tomato flu cases ](https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/tomato-fever-india-sees-82-cases-in-kids-below-5-years-symptoms-treatment-101660998916658.html)in children. (Also read: [Tomato flu: Know the common symptoms, prevention tips from experts)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/tomato-flu-know-the-common-symptoms-prevention-tips-from-experts-101661256178642.html)
The tomato flu, which was first reported in Kerala on May 6, has since spread to other Indian states like Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Odisha.
Essentially, it is a clinical variant of the viral hand, foot and mouth disease — a common infectious disease that targets children between 1-10 years as well as immune-compromised adults. The infected individual must avoid scratching rashes and blisters. What precautions can be taken to prevent the spread of tomato flu?
More than 82 children have the infection characterised by red blisters that take the shape of tomatoes.
As of now, the Indian government’s advisory has said that there are no disease-specific medications available for treatment. [Terms of use,](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/user-policies-a6184151.html) [Cookie policy](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/cookie-policy-a6184186.html) and [Privacy notice.](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/privacy-policy-a6184181.html) Twenty-six more infections in children aged between one and nine years were reported from eastern Odisha by the Regional Medical Research Centre in state capital Bhubaneswar. [Privacy policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en) and [Terms of service](https://policies.google.com/terms?hl=en) apply. The flu is a self-limiting infectious disease and the symptoms of the condition resolve in a few days, officials said in the advisory.
Monkeypox vs Tomato Flu: Like coronavirus and monkeypox, tomato flu too is a viral infection and is said to be a variant of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease ...
The guideline of covid can also be followed for monkeypox and tomato flu," says Dr Gupta. Like [coronavirus ](https://www.hindustantimes.com/topic/coronavirus)and [monkeypox](https://www.hindustantimes.com/health/monkeypox-or-chickenpox-doctors-explain-the-difference-in-symptoms-101659272559707.html), tomato flu too is a viral infection and is said to be a variant of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD). There is no diagnostic test available for tomato flu but we can suspect it basis the symptoms and if no other viral infection is present," says Dr Ravindra Gupta, Department of Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Gurgaon. However, there is no information on the type of virus responsible for tomato flu. The infection can spread through rashes as these are communicable diseases. These can be found in the neck or thighs. It is rare to find rashes on the stomach or legs. The blisters also resemble those seen with the monkeypox virus in young people. Know the difference in symptoms of the two diseases from an expert. Some of its symptoms are similar to Covid, monkeypox, [dengue ](https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/effective-tips-to-avoid-dengue-during-monsoon-101656920783829.html)and chikungunya. [sudden spurt in tomato flu cases ](https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/tomato-fever-india-sees-82-cases-in-kids-below-5-years-symptoms-treatment-101660998916658.html)in children. (Also read: [Tomato flu: Know the common symptoms, prevention tips from experts)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/tomato-flu-know-the-common-symptoms-prevention-tips-from-experts-101661256178642.html)
Tomato flu, which medical experts say is not considered life-threatening, gets its name from the painful red blisters that enlarge to the size of a tomato.
[hand, foot and mouth disease](https://www.cdc.gov/hand-foot-mouth/index.html), which is common among children under age 5, the Lancet article said. Tomato flu is diagnosed after tests have ruled out dengue, chikungunya, [Zika](https://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html), chickenpox and herpes. [chikungunya](https://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/index.html) or [dengue](https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/symptoms/index.html) rather than a viral infection, according to the article. The blisters resemble those seen on young monkeypox patients. [published](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(22)00300-9/fulltext) last week in the British medical journal Lancet.
Monkeypox, a viral zoonotic disease, is clinically less severe than smallpox (a virus that spreads from animals to people). It has symptoms that are similar to ...
Make sure to understand these differences based on origin and symptoms to better idea tiny between the two. Direct contact with an infected animal, person, or contaminated object can result in the transmission of monkeypox to people. Numerous animal species have been identified to be susceptible to the monkeypox virus. A virus is what causes tomato flu, but the precise reason for this is still unknown. The name tomato flu originates because of the red rashes and blisters the flu may cause, similar to how tomatoes look. Tomato flu and monkeypox in particular have caught the attention of many this year.
India's health ministry has issued testing and prevention guidelines to states following a surge of a new influenza virus variant, commonly known as tomato ...
Tomato flu gets its name from the often tomato-shaped blisters that appear across the patient’s body. Apart from the blisters, the highly infectious viral illness can cause fever, fatigue and body aches. It most commonly affects young children and will typically see flare-ups in nursery schools and daycares.
The so-called tomato flu spreading among children in Kerala, India, is probably caused by hand, foot and mouth disease, a common childhood illness that is ...
[dengue](/article/2326879-zika-or-dengue-infections-make-you-more-appealing-to-mosquitoes/) or [chikungunya](/article/dn25214-threatwatch-chikungunya-may-explode-with-rainy-season/), Tang says. “The most important thing is that the kids recover,” Tang says. “Tomato fever is a misleading colloquial name for hand, foot and mouth disease,” Rajeev Jayadevan of the Indian Medical Association [is reported as saying](https://theprint.in/india/tomato-fever-is-misleading-colloquial-name-for-hand-foot-and-mouth-disease-experts/1092761/?amp). [can be a lot of variation in the rashes](https://www.medicaljournals.se/acta/content/html/10.2340/00015555-2853) caused by a single virus, Tang says. These newer lineages [can manifest differently](https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(13)70264-0), he says. It is still one of the most common causes of HFMD. No, there are no treatments but the vast majority of children recover quickly with no long lasting effects. However, this letter presented no evidence and has [been criticised by some other experts](https://twitter.com/angie_rasmussen/status/1561063823166955521?s=20&t=l4g79-3XbUlw5ngSJRX14A). It is also possible that some of the cases are due to the mosquito-borne diseases chikungunya and dengue. “It’s very alarming for parents,” Tang says. It appears that tomato flu is simply a new and misleading name for a common and usually mild childhood disease known as A week after returning, the 13-month-old girl and 5-year-old brother developed a rash consisting of small fluid-filled blisters, with no other symptoms.
So far, more than 80 children have been affected by the tomato fever virus in Kerala and Odisha.
These blisters can be in the shape of a tomato, which is called tomato flu. The disease affects children between the ages of 1 and 5 and adults with weak immunity. Kerala’s neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have also been alerted given the outbreak of the tomato fever virus.
Health officials are investigating an outbreak of what's known as “Tomato Flu.” Also called Tomato Fever, the first flu was reported in Kerala, ...
In the vast majority of cases, the symptoms of Tomato Flu will subside on their own after a few days with no specific medications. [disease symptoms include fever, eating or drinking less due to sores in the mouth, ](https://www.cdc.gov/hand-foot-mouth/about/signs-symptoms.html)sore throat and feeling unwell. The total number of cases has now topped 100, more than 80% of which are in children below age 5.