In news– An outbreak of ‘tomato flu’ has triggered panic in Kerala’s Kollam district after the mysterious disease was recently detected in 80 children, all under five years of age.
What is tomato flu?
- Tomato flu is a rare viral disease, which causes red-coloured rashes, skin irritation and dehydration.
- The disease gets its name from the blisters or rashes it causes, which look like tomatoes.
- However, its cause is still unknown whether it is related to chikungunya, a viral fever or a dengue fever.
- Symptoms of this flu include rashes, skin irritation and dehydration.
- It can also cause tiredness, joint pain, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, high fever, and body ache.
- In some cases, it may also change the colour of the legs and the hands.
- This flu is a self-limiting one and there is no specific drug for this.
- Like other cases of flu, tomato fever is also contagious and if someone is infected with this flu, they need to be kept in isolation as this could spread rapidly from one person to another.
Source: The Indian Express
