Medics in India have warned of a “highly contagious” illness that is spreading among children after being first identified in May this year.
Known as tomato flu, the disease has infected 82 children under the age of five so far, all of whom are in India.
The illness has been named after its most obvious feature - the nasty red blisters that appear on the skin and grow to the size of a tomato.
It has been contained to the Kollam district of Kerala, India, and nearby Anchal, Aryankavu, and Neduvathur, with authorities taking precautionary measures to ensure it does not spread.
No other cases have been reported outside these areas, and the risk of it spreading to other countries is unknown.
The children have not experienced severe illness, and doctors say the symptoms cross over with other viruses, including cold and flu.
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Writing in the medical journal The Lancet, doctors explained that tomato flu is “very contagious” and they fear it will spread into adults too.
They detailed the tell-tale symptoms to watch out for, these include:
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Fatigue
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Nausea
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Vomiting
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Diarrhoea
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Fever
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Dehydration
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Swelling of joints
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Body aches
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Rash (blisters)
The health experts explained: “Tomato flu gained its name on the basis of the eruption of red and painful blisters throughout the body that gradually enlarge to the size of a tomato.”
Doctors noted a resemblance between the red blisters to those seen in monkeypox patients.
The Lancet reported: “The rare viral infection is in an endemic state and is considered non-life-threatening; however, because of the dreadful experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, the vigilant management is desirable to prevent further outbreaks.
“Children are at increased risk of exposure to tomato flu as viral infections are common in this age group and spread is likely to be through close contact.”
The symptoms listed are similar to viral infections spread by mosquitoes in other parts of the world, including dengue and chikungunya.
Medics reported that tomato flu could be an “after-effect” of the two viruses.
It is also believed that the infection is a new variant of hand, foot and mouth disease, health experts have claimed.
According to the NHS, hand, foot and mouth disease is a common childhood illness that can also affect adults.
The first signs of the disease can be a sore throat, high temperature and loss of appetite before mouth ulcers and a rash appear.
It is common for raised spots to appear on the hands and feet, and sometimes on the thighs and buttocks as well.
The doctors added in The Lancet: “Given the similarities to hand, foot, and mouth disease, if the outbreak of tomato flu in children is not controlled and prevented, transmission might lead to serious consequences by spreading in adults as well.”
Isolation is key to preventing the infection spreading further than Kerala, the doctors explained.
