How to cure Tomato flu?

Describe the tomato flu. 

The first case of tomato flu, also called tomato fever, was reported in Kerala, India, in May 2022. Most of the time, kids younger than five get it. It got its name from the red spots on the skin that look like tomatoes. Even though it's not life-threatening, it can be very painful and needs to be managed carefully. It's a type of hand, foot, and mouth disease, which usually leads to a rash, joint pain, and stomach problems. It goes away on its own and can be handled with supportive care, like keeping yourself hydrated and giving painkillers. 

Important notes 

• The tomato flu is not fatal, and most individuals recover on their own with additional care. 
• It has nothing to do with COVID-19 or monkeypox, even though it showed up around the same time. 
• The fastest spread among kids, especially in schools and daycares, is the biggest worry. 

Signs of the Tomato Flu 

Tomato flu, also called tomato fever, is a virus that mostly affects kids younger than 5 years old. The name comes from the red spots on the skin that look like tomatoes. 

These are the most common signs: 

• Fever that won't go away and is hard to explain 

• Red, painful spots on the skin that look like tomatoes 

• Rash on the feet, hands, and other parts of the body 

• Feeling tired and poor in strength 

• Muscle and joint pain 

• Redness and itching of the skin 

• Dehydration (from losing too much water or not drinking enough) 

• People sometimes report feeling sick, throwing up, or experiencing diarrhoea. • Coughing, sneezing, or a runny nose (sometimes the same as the flu virus) 

The illness goes away on its own with supportive care, but because it is so contagious, people who have it should stay away from others and practice good hygiene to stop it from spreading. 

Why do people get tomato fever? 

Tomato fever, also called tomato flu, is a virus that mostly affects kids. We are still investigating the exact cause, but here's what we currently know: Enteroviruses, specifically the Coxsackievirus group, are the primary cause of tomato fever. Tobacco fever is a type of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), which is caused by enteroviruses.  The rashes and blisters are bigger and redder than HFMD's, hence the name.  Children with unexplained fevers may exhibit symptoms similar to other viral diseases.  Tomato fever has symptoms that are similar to those of the flu, chikungunya, and dengue. These include fever, tiredness, and joint pain. Unlike those conditions, though, tomato fever goes away on its own and is not thought to be life-threatening. 

What to Remember 

It's not tomatoes that cause tomato fever; the name comes from the raised sores that look like tomatoes. HFMD is likely linked to enteroviruses, and it spreads through close contact, touching a dirty surface, and not washing your hands properly. 

Is the tomato flu dangerous? 

People don't think that tomato flu (also called tomato fever) is dangerous or can kill them. The illness is caused by a virus and generally goes away on its own with supportive care. On the other hand, it can be very painful for kids and needs to be closely watched. 

Why it's not dangerous 

There have been no serious problems recorded. Unlike dengue or chikungunya, tomato flu does not damage organs or cause long-term health problems. • Gets better on its own: With rest, fluids, and fever control, most kids get better in 7–10 days. • Doesn't kill: There have been no reports of deaths with tomato flu. 

Why do we still need to pay attention? 

• It spreads easily among children through close contact, contaminated surfaces, and improper hand-washing practices. 
• Painful symptoms: a fever, feeling worn out, having joint pain, and having big red spots can be very upsetting. 
• Risk of dehydration: throwing up, diarrhoea, or not drinking enough water can make a disease worse if it's not treated. 
• Misdiagnosis with other illnesses: symptoms are similar to those of dengue, chikungunya, and hand-foot-mouth disease, so it's important to get the right diagnosis. 

In conclusion, tomato flu does not pose a life-threatening risk, but it is very common and unpleasant, especially for kids. To stop the spread, supportive care and isolation are crucial. 

How to Treat the Tomato Flu at Home 

As a self-limiting viral illness, tomato flu normally goes away on its own. Since there isn't a specific antiviral treatment, the focus of care is on making symptoms better and stopping the virus from spreading. 

Helpful Home Care 

• Rest: Make sure the child gets enough rest and doesn't do anything too hard. 
• Hydration: To keep from getting dehydrated, encourage people to drink water, oral rehydration treatments, and soups. 
• To treat a fever, take pain relievers (like Tylenol or acetaminophen) as directed by your doctor. Do not give aspirin to kids. 
• Taking care of your skin: 4. Make sure blisters are dry and clean. Don't scratch to keep from getting more diseases. 
• If your doctor tells you to, use light antiseptics or soothing lotions. 
• Maintain a healthy diet that includes soft, easy-to-digest foods to maintain your strength. 
• To stop the disease from spreading, keep the child away from other kids until they are better. 

What Not to Do 

• Taking drugs on your own (they don't work against viruses). 
• Blisters that burst make you more likely to get an illness. 
• Stay away from busy places and school until you're fully better. 

How and When to Get Medical Help  

• If you have a high fever that persists despite receiving home care, seek medical attention. 
• Extreme dehydration manifests as lethargy, dry mouth, and decreased urine production. 
• A secondary skin ailment, characterised by pus, swelling, and redness, intensifies over time. 
• It can also be confused with other diseases such as dengue or chikungunya.

To sum up, 

Tomato flu is not dangerous, but it needs to be carefully managed at home to keep people from getting sick and stop the virus from spreading. Kids generally get better in 7–10 days. 

• To avoid getting sick, stay away from children who are already ill. 
• Wash your hands often and stay away from dirty places. 
• Make sure kids drink a lot of water. 
• Also, keep your child away from other people to stop the spread. 
• Taking a bath every day and keeping clean 
• Kids' full-sleeved cotton clothes 
• You should talk to your regular child expert doctor about this in more detail. 

Important things to keep in mind: 

• This tomato flu is very safe and won't kill  (no deaths have been reported). 
• There is a very high chance that it will spread to children, though. 
• It lasts between 7 and 10 days. 
• Specific treatment is not needed (only supportive care is needed). 
• Mostly, you need to see a doctor to rule out other reasons, like dengue and other severe viral fevers with rashes. 

Specific Ways to Treat Tomato Flu 

The video explains how tomato flu is treated

There is no specific antiviral medicine that can help tomato flu or tomato fever. The illness is caused by a virus and gets better on its own with supported care. The way it is treated is like how it is treated for hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). 

Treatment Principles

• The treatment solely focuses on symptom relief, as there are no specific antiviral drugs available. 
• The most important thing is supportive care: 
• Rest: getting enough sleep and doing less. 
• Hydration: Drink a lot of water to keep from getting dehydrated. 
•  For fevers and pain, paracetamol or acetaminophen (but not aspirin for kids) should be used. 
• Take care of your skin: Keep boils clean and dry, and don't scratch or pop them. 
• Foods that are soft and easy to digest to keep you strong. 
• Being alone: Stops the disease from spreading to other kids. 

What Should Not Be Done 

• Antibiotics: Since tomato flu is caused by a virus, antibiotics don't work on it. 
• Steroids or other strong drugs are not necessary unless problems arise. 
• Home treatments that irritate blisters can make the pain worse or lead to an infection. 

Conclusion

Tomato flu, also called tomato fever, is a virus that first showed up in India in 2022 and mostly affects kids younger than five years old. It gets its name from the red spots on the skin that look like tomatoes. Anyone can get the tomato flu, but it is important to be careful at home and follow strict safety rules to stop it from spreading to kids. With the right care, most people get better in 7–10 days.