What is Causing Tomato Fever to Spread in India? Symptoms & Treatment
Meta description: The tomato Fever is considered very contagious by medical experts; learn its symptoms and treatment options.
India is currently battling yet another virus outbreak. On Saturday, a Lancet study revealed that India has had 82 cases of tomato Fever or tomato fever since the virus was first detected in Kerala on May 6.
Researchers believe the common infectious disease affecting mostly children and immunocompromised adults could also be a distinct variant of hand, foot, and mouth disease.
What is Tomato Fever?
On May 6, 2022, Kerala’s Kollam district detected its first case of tomato Fever. Study results indicated that the tomato Fever virus displays similar symptoms to Covid-19, but does not share any characteristics with SARS-CoV-2. There is a possibility that tomato Fever is an aftereffect of dengue fever or chikungunya in children, rather than a viral infection.
During the Fever, red and painful blisters appeared all over the body, gradually growing to the size of a tomato.
Symptoms of Tomato Fever
As with chikungunya, tomato Fever is characterized by high fever, rashes, and intense joint pain in children. It shares some symptoms with Covid-19 patients, like body aches, fever and fatigue. In addition to nausea, joint swelling, dehydration, diarrhoea, joint aches, and fever, there are other symptoms as well. Rashes have also been reported on the skin of some patients.
The study added that further symptoms include fatigue, and common inFeverenza-like symptoms, which are similar to those manifested in dengue.
Diagnosis of Tomato Fever
It is recommended that patients showing symptoms of dengue, chikungunya, herpes, zika virus and varicella-zoster virus undergo molecular and serological tests. The tomato virus can only be confirmed once these viral infections have been ruled out.
Treatment of Tomato Fever
Treatment for tomato Fever is similar to treatment for dengue, chikungunya, and hand, foot, and mouth diseases. Isolation, rest, plenty of Feverids, and the use of hot water sponges are recommended for relief of irritation and rashes. Researchers recommended paracetamol therapy to treat fever, body aches, and other symptoms.
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