'Tomato Flu' outbreak in India

The Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal defines the infection as a "new virus" that has emerged in Kerala in children younger than five years. The report, however, contradicts itself by also claiming the infection to be in an endemic state. 'Endemic' is a term used to refer to a disease which has spread in a limited area but has been around for some time. The report further claims that 'tomato flu' was first identified in the Kollam district of Kerala on May 6 this year. However, a study published by the U.S. 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 as well. 

 The authors do not mention a specific origin, type or cause of the infection. They suggest that it may be an after-effect of chikungunya or dengue fever in children rather than a viral infection, or that the virus could also be a new variant of the HFMD, a common viral infection affecting young children that appears with fever, rashes or blisters on the skin and mouth sores. 

 As far as its etymology is concerned, the Lancet report claims that the 'tomato flu' is so named because of the "eruption of red and painful blisters throughout the body that gradually enlarge to the size of a tomato." Medical experts have taken strong exception to this, saying that the usage of such terms is unscientific and misleading. They also clarify that the infection is not related to the consumption of tomatoes in any way. 

 Tomato fever is a misleading colloquial name for hand, foot, and mouth disease. This is a mild viral illness commonly affecting young children typically below age 10. It is usually caused by a Coxsackie virus. It produces red spots on the skin, and hence someone called it 'tomato fever', and the name became popular. But using such terms is misleading because many people mistakenly believe it comes from tomatoes. 

 The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated that the illness is a clinical variant of the HFMD. The Ministry, however, also used the term 'tomato flu' in the advisory. The Ministry clarified that the virus causing 'tomato flu' is not related to SARS-CoV-2, monkeypox, dengue, or chikungunya despite symptoms similar to those in viral infections. "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. Infants and young children are also prone to this infection through the use of nappies, touching unclean surfaces as well as putting things directly into the mouth," the Centre said. It is a self-limiting illness and no specific medication exists for its treatment yet, it said. 

 On symptoms, the Centre said a child infected with 'tomato flu' will have fever, rashes and pain in joints. The illness usually begins with a mild fever, poor appetite, malaise, and occasionally, a sore throat. Small red blisters appear one or two days after the fever and these sores are usually located on the tongue, gums, inside of the cheeks, palms and soles. In some cases, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, swelling of joints, body ache, and common influenza-like symptoms have also been noted. 

 It advised isolation for five to seven days from the onset of any symptom to prevent the spread of infection. Other guidelines mentioned in the report include supportive therapy of paracetamol for fever and body ache as well as other symptomatic treatments, a nutrition-rich, balanced diet to boost immunity, rest, plenty of fluids and a hot water sponge to provide relief from irritation and rashes.