Days after a teenage girl lost her life after eating shawarma roll from an eatery joint in Kerala’s Kasaragod due to a bacteria named Shigella, a new virus has hit the state. Kerala has registered 82 cases of ‘Tomato Flu’ or ‘Tomato Fever’, as per the local media, which is expected to rise further. Causes of the disease is still unknown.
The Kerala Health Department is closely monitoring the situation as the disease affects children below the age of five. All the 82 cases of Tomato Fever was reported in Kollam city. What is particularly worrying is that all confirmed cases are of children below five years and they have been reported from local government hospitals.
The state health department is reportedly monitoring the situation closely and has taken preventive measures. The cases have been reported from Aryankavu, Anchal and Neduvathur. Due to the high number of cases, the Anganwadi centres in the areas have been closed. Authorities, meanwhile, have launched awareness campaigns in villages.
What is ‘Tomato Flu’ or ‘Tomato Fever’
Tomato fever also known as Tomato flu is a rare kind of viral infection that is affecting children below the age of five-years.It has still not been confirmed whether this unidentified Tomato Fever is a viral fever or an aftereffect of chikungunya or dengue fever.
Mostly the infected child experience rashes and skin irritation and dehydration. This causes blisters on several parts of the body.The name Tomato flu or Tomato fever is derived from the fact that these blisters are usually round in shape and red in colour. Only parts of Kollam are experiencing this kind of flu, but the state health officials warned it could spread to other regions also.
Symptoms of Tomato Fever
Children who suffer from Tomato flu or Tomato fever usually experience rashes and skin irritation and dehydration.Tomato flu causes blisters on several parts of the infected child’s body.
Basically the blisters are generally red in color, and thus it is called “tomato flu” or “tomato fever”.
- Feeling tired
- Colour of hands and legs changes
- Pain in the joints
- Cramps in the abdominal
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Wheezing
- Runny nose
- High fever
- Body aches
Which part of India sees this infection?
According to the health officials, in India its only parts of Kollam that has seen tomato flu, but now the officials have warned that this could spread to other regions if action is not taken on time.
How to prevent Tomato Fever?
Although, there are no treatments to cure tomato flu or Tomato fever, but here are some preventive measures that one can keep in mind-
- Blisters-do not scratch it or rub it.
- Drink only boiled water and stay
- Keep the area clean and try maintaining proper hygiene.
- Try maintaining distance from the infected person
- For bathing, use only warm water
- Take proper rest
- Also, good diet
- Avoid close contact with the infected person.
- Take proper rest to avoid the long-lasting effects of the fever.
Source : Agency Inputs
