NEW DELHI — Tomato flu, a clinical variant of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) that was first reported in India on May 6 in Kerala’s Kollam district, has now spread to three other states: Tamil Nadu, Haryana, and Odisha.
As of July 26, more than 82 children under five had tested positive for tomato flu in Kerala, primarily in the Kollam district, according to the Union Health Ministry. The state’s other affected areas are Anchal, Aryankavu, and Neduvathur, according to the health ministry on Tuesday. Furthermore, the Regional Medical Research Centre in Bhubaneswar has reported 26 children (aged 1-9 years) as having the disease in Odisha, according to a senior official.
Primary symptoms observed in children with tomato flu are similar to those seen in other viral infections, including fever, rashes, and joint pain, according to an advisory issued by the Centre to all states in light of the rising number of cases.
“HFMD is distinguished by fever, mouth sores, and a skin rash.” It usually starts with a mild fever, a loss of appetite, malaise, and a sore throat. Small red spots appear one or two days after the madness begins, followed by blisters and ulcers. Sores are most commonly found on the tongue, gums, inside of the cheeks, palms, and soles.
“In children with these symptoms, molecular and serological tests are performed to rule out dengue, chikungunya, zika virus, varicella-zoster virus, and herpes; once these viral infections are ruled out, a tomato flu diagnosis is considered,” it says.
