TOMATO
FLU

WHAT IS TOMATO FLU?
Tomato flu, often known as tomato fever, is a viral disease that
causes blisters that resemble tomatoes
Tomato Fever is still contested as a viral fever or an aftereffect of
chikungunya or dengue fever.

SYMTOMS

CAUSES
The actual cause of the disease is still unknown
Vulnerable Population: The flu affects children below the age of
five.
1) hand-foot-and mouth disease (HFMD) caused by a group of
enteroviruses (viruses transmitted through the intestine) like
Coxsackievirus A-6 and A-16.
2) Another pathogen — Enterovirus71 — that also causes the
disease. However, this one is not very prevalent now.
,

SYMTOMS

TRANSMISSION OF THE
FLU
like other types of flu, is contagious.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES
AND TREATMENT
to practice proper hygiene.
avoid scratching or tearing the blisters, as this may increase the
symptoms.

HOW DO YOU TAKE CARE OF THE
CHILDREN INFECTED WITH TOMATO
FLU?
• Contact a doctor right away.
• Maintain good hygiene.
• Allow your child not to scratch the tomato flu rashes and
blisters.
• Make your child consume heated water to keep them hydrated.
• Bathe the child in warm water and avoid close contact with the
infected person.
• The affected child’s clothes, cutlery, and other belongings must
be cleansed to prevent the flu from spreading.

ARE TOMATO FLU AND
COVID RELATED?
Covid and Tomato Flu is not the same
So, there is no need to confuse or panic

so called because of the painful red blisters it produces on the
body,
Coxsackie A16 causes hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD)
 May 6 ,Kollam recorded its first case of tomato flu
viral infection common in young children below 10 years of age
severity and complications are less in the case of HFMD.
 it comes from the Kawasaki virus group.
 eported from at least four states — Kerala, Tamil Nadu,
Haryana, and Odisha
 clinical variant of the hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD),

SYMTOMS
• fever,
• fatigue,
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea,
• dehydration,
• rashes and pain in joints
• Stomach cramps
• Body aches
• Blisters appear on body parts (the tongue, gums, inside of the
cheeks, palms and soles) only after the first two days of the
fever

it is very contagious and can be spread through faeces and the
fluid in the spots,
arents are advised that children with HFMD should be kept away
from school or nursery for five days after the symptoms start.

reatment is also similar—ie, isolation, rest, plenty of fluids, and hot
water sponge for the relief of irritation and rashes. Supportive
therapy of paracetamol for fever and bodyache and other
symptomatic treatments are required.

HAND, FOOT, AND
MOUTH DISEASE
caused by a group of enteroviruses

TOMATO FLU MAY BE A CONSEQUENCE OF
CHIKUNGUNYA OR DENGUE FEVER RATHER THAN A
VIRAL ILLNESS.
THE VIRUS MAY ALTERNATIVELY BE A NOVEL
VARIATION OF HAND, FOOT, AND MOUTH DISEASE,
TOMATO FLU IS A SELF-LIMITING SICKNESS
VIRUS

As it happens mainly in children, the centre’s advisory to states that was
issued focuses on preventions in these age groups.
1) anyone suspected to have the infection should remain in isolation for
five to seven days after the onset of the symptoms.
It states that children must be educated about the infection and asked not
to hug or touch other children with fever or rashes.
If a child develops symptoms, they should be isolated, their utensils,
clothing, and bedding must be regularly sanitised, they must be kept
hydrated, and the blisters must be cleaned using warm water
PREVENTION OF TOMATO FLU- CENTRE’S
ADVISORY TO STATES