24 Aug Tomato Flu/Fever
Tomato Flu and Its Effects
Tomato flu/fever is a rare contagious disease of viral nature in humans.
- It is caused by Coxsackievirus A 16. It belongs to the Enterovirus family.
- It has been called tomato virus because the symptoms include small grape-like blisters that can actually grow as big as a tomato and are red like a tomato.
- Its symptoms are similar to dengue fever and the Chikungunya virus.
- The flu is said to affect children below five years of age and infected children have skin irritation and severe dehydration issues.
Tomato Flu in India
It is an unexplainable viral disease spreading in some states of India. It is a clinical variant of the Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD), which was first reported in the Kollam district in Kerala on May-6-2022, and has now spread to three other states – Tamil Nadu, Haryana, and Odisha.
Symptoms of Tomato Flu/fever
The symptoms of tomato flu are similar to chikungunya or dengue infection. The chief identified symptoms of this infectious disease are the following:
- Large, red-colored, and spherical blisters on multiple body parts.
- Body pain
- Tiredness and fatigue
- Rashes and irritation
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dehydration
- High-grade fever
- Swollen and painful joints
- Frequent coughing
- Patches and discoloration on various body areas: – hands, buttocks, and knees
- Runny nose and sneezing
- Abdominal pain and cramps
Tomato Flu
Cause of the disease
Presently, the exact cause of the infection is still undisclosed. Many researchers are still investigating the causative organism responsible for the disease. And it is a transmissible disease, the healthcare providers advise taking precautionary measures to avoid infection.
Is tomato flu a contagious infection?
Yes, It is a contagious disease that spreads through direct contact. It is common among children due to a lack of hygiene maintenance. The infectious virus remains in a child’s body for many weeks after the infection subsides, making them favorable carriers. Adults can also transmit the virus while handling children without showing any signs and symptoms of the disease.
Treatment
- Tomato flu is a self-limiting infectious disease as the signs and symptoms resolve after a few days. It is a rare disease and has recently emerged, so no disease-specific medications are available.
- But still, treatment of the disease is similar to diseases like chikungunya and dengue— isolation, rest, plenty of fluids, and a hot water sponge for the relief of irritation and rashes.
- The doctors provide symptomatic care according to the infected child’s needs and prescribe antipyretic and pain-relievers to subside symptoms.
Prevention of Tomato Flu
As we all know, prevention is the best treatment in a sudden unknown disease outbreak. That’s why the following are some preventive measures we should keep in mind:
- Avoid close & immediate contact with the infected person.
- Aware children of the signs, symptoms, and side effects.
- Encourage children about hygiene maintenance and stopping thumb or finger-sucking habits.
- Encourage the children to use a handkerchief in case of a runny nose or coughing.
- Fluid (water, milk, or juice) intake should be increased to counter dehydration.
- Balanced & nutrition-rich diet to boost immunity.
- Isolate the infected patient.
- Good & sufficient rest and sleep to promote healing.
- Use warm water to clean skin or for bathing
Download PDF now:
Plutus IAS current affairs eng med 24th August 2022
Image Source:
Source:
Daily Current Affairs for UPSC
For reading such kinds of the latest news of the national and international world, collect current affairs from Plutus IAS. It is the best source for daily current affairs for the UPSC examination. From today Collect weekly, and monthly Current Affairs for IAS exam preparation.
No Comments