Indian health advisory for rare virus infecting children

An outbreak of a rare and new viral infection affecting young children in India has prompted health officials to issue a health advisory after more than 100 cases were reported in the country.

Tomato flu – so called because of the painful red blisters it produces – has so far been found in 82 children under the age of five in the state of Kerala, the first on May 6.

Since then, an additional 26 cases have been reported in neighboring Tamil Nadu state and eastern Odisha, including children as young as nine.

India’s health ministry said the virus is not life-threatening, but this week issued testing and prevention guidelines for all states, urging parents to be more vigilant in testing their children for symptoms. The Times of India reported.

Tomato flu is a highly contagious viral infection that is spread by close contact, especially among young children under the age of five.

Symptoms include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, dehydration, swollen joints, body aches and common flu-like symptoms, including the so-called tomato-like blisters.

Scientists are still trying to figure out the cause of the virus. However, they say “it is not related to SARS-CoV-2”. [Covid-19]In an article published last week, although some of the same symptoms appear British medical journal Lancet.

Most likely, the virus is a result of chikungunya or dengue fever, both of which are transmitted by mosquitoes.

Alternatively, a new viral hand, foot and mouth disease may be a common infectious disease that mostly targets children aged one to five years and immunocompromised adults.

Children are at a higher risk of contracting tomato flu because viral infections are more common in this age group and transmission can occur through close contact.

They are particularly at risk from using nappies, touching unclean surfaces and putting things directly into the mouth.

But if the outbreak is not controlled and its spread limited, the elderly may be at risk.

“Given its similarities to hand, foot, and mouth disease, if tomato flu is not controlled and prevented in children, it can spread to adults and lead to serious consequences,” the Lancet article states.

Tomato flu is a self-limiting disease, meaning it tends to resolve on its own without treatment.

However, health officials have urged the public to take precautions to prevent the spread of the disease, including keeping suspects in isolation for five to seven days after symptoms appear.

“The best solution for prevention is to maintain proper hygiene and cleanliness of the environment and environment, and to prevent the infected child from sharing toys, clothes, food, or other items with other children,” the Lancet article reported. .