Context:
A new infection dubbed tomato flu, or tomato fever, has been detected in India mostly among children younger than five, according to a report in the Lancet Respiratory Journal.
Relevance:
GS II- Health
Dimensions of the Article:
- What is tomato flu?
- How can tomato flu be treated? How to take care of it?
What is tomato flu?
- The flu that gets its name because of the red blister it causes.
- It affects children below five years of age.
- The symptoms of this flu, also called Tomato fever, include rashes, skin irritation and dehydration.
- According to several reports, the flu can also cause tiredness, joint pain, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, high fever, and body ache.
- In some cases, it may also change the colour of the legs and the hands.
- The symptoms will resolve overtime on their own if supportive care is given.
How can tomato flu be treated? How to take care of it?
- Like other cases of flu, tomato fever is also contagious.
- If someone is infected with this flu, they need to be kept in isolation as this could spread rapidly from one person to another
- It is essential to prevent children from scratching the blisters caused by the flu.
- Proper rest and hygiene is also advised.
- Utensils, clothes and other items used by the infected persons must be sanitised to prevent the flu from spreading.
- Fluid intake would also help counteract dehydration.
-Source: The Hindu
