Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

What's is tomato flu which affects young children?

The disease is reported to cause several symptoms similar to COVID-19, including fever, fatigue, and body aches.

What's is tomato flu which affects young children?

An outbreak of a contagious disease called tomato flu in India, has experts concerned, as the disease is reported to cause several symptoms similar to the COVID-19 disease, including fever, fatigue, and body aches.

Tomato flu is reported to mainly affect children aged between one and five years old. But though the disease is supposed to be very contagious, it has been found to be non-fatal, reports the Mirror.


Everyday Health explains that the virus got its name from one tell-tale symptom (which is not seen with Covid-19) — bright red painful blisters that spread all over the body and which can gradually increase to the size of a tomato.

According to a report in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine (on August 17) despite the virus being rare, at least 100 cases have been reported in India since the first case was identified in the state of Kerala on May 6.

Additionally, the risk of the disease is also said to be low, with no cases reported outside India. However, health experts warn that it's important to be vigilant as tomato flu is a contagious virus, and has potential to spread outside India as well.

Though the cause of tomato flu is not exactly known, experts reportedly believe that it might either be a variant of hand foot and mouth disease (caused by enterovirus) or an after-effect of mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever.

Speaking about the disease and the duration it lasts, Dr Monika Wassermann, MD at Boutiquetoyou.com told the Mirror, "The good news is that it can go away within 10 days. However, if symptoms persist consult your doctor immediately."

According to Dr Monika the main symptoms of tomato flu include:

• Rashes/tomato-like blisters

• Dehydration

• Skin irritation

Some of the other symptoms that children may experience are:

• Fever

• Vomiting

• Diarrhoea

• Weakness

• Joint aches and pain

Tomato flu is reported to spread from child to child, via close contact such as when playing, touching or sitting with infected children, the Mirror informs.

Also, the infection is said to resolve on its own, if symptoms are controlled. However, if the symptoms are left untreated, there could be serious consequences (due to dehydration caused by the disease) including stones in the kidney, constipation and low blood volume shock, which could be fatal.

Dr Monika advises, "I wish to inform parents to monitor their kids closely. They should avoid touching blisters when spotted and reach out to a healthcare provider. They should also ensure that kids get a healthy diet and all necessary vaccines for boosted immunity."

According to the Lancet, treatment for tomato flu is similar to what’s done for young children with chikungunya and dengue — lots of fluids, rest, and hot water sponge baths to relieve irritation from rashes. Children may also be given fever-reducing medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

More For You

british-muslims-iStock

The study noted that this identification was not due to any doctrinal obligation but was influenced by the perception that many Muslims do not feel fully accepted as British. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Majority of British Muslims identify by faith first, study finds

A STUDY by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has found that most British Muslims identify primarily with their religion rather than their nationality.

The research, based on a survey of 815 British Muslim adults by Whitestone Insight, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents identified as Muslim first, while 27 per cent identified as British, English, or Scottish first.

Keep ReadingShow less
Car Tax Changes: EV Owners Now Required to Pay for the First Time

Owners of electric vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2025 will pay £10 for the first year, followed by the standard VED rate of £195 from the second year. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Car tax changes take effect: EV owners to pay for first time

FROM today, 1 April 2025, electric cars, vans, and motorcycles in the UK will be subject to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first time.

The change, introduced in the 2022 Autumn Statement by former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, aims to make motoring taxation fairer.

Keep ReadingShow less
scotland-minimum-wages-iStock

Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will receive an annual pay increase of £1,400 in real terms. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Wage increase takes effect for thousands of workers in Scotland

HUNDREDS of thousands of workers in Scotland will see a pay increase as new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect from Tuesday.

The changes will benefit approximately 220,000 people, according to STV News.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk-energy-bill-iStock

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

April bill increases put financial strain on single parents

A RANGE of essential household bills are increasing from April, with Citizens Advice warning that single parents will be among the hardest hit.

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased, BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools
Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence'
Netflix

Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools

THE NETFLIX drama Adolescence will be shown in UK secondary schools as part of efforts to address harmful online influences on young boys, officials announced on Monday.

The show has sparked debate over the impact of toxic and misogynistic content on the internet. Prime minister Keir Starmer met the show's creators, charities, and young people at Downing Street, calling the initiative an important step in starting discussions about the content teenagers are exposed to online.

Keep ReadingShow less