Forget COVID, `tomato fever’ grips parts of India

Over 80 kids have been diagnosed with `tomato fever’ in the Kollam district of Kerala.

Officials said there was a sudden spurt in the tomato fever cases as more than 80 kids were diagnosed in parts of Kerala in less than a few days.

“Over 80 kids below the age group of five were diagnosed with the disease and the numbers are expected to go up. Kerala has also ordered surveillance and screening of passengers along the Tamil Nadu border,” said a senior health official.

The Kerala government has formed a 24-member team to oversee the screening of all the kids at Anganwadi centers.

Neighboring states including Karnataka have sounded an alert for the outbreak of the disease.

Karnataka health minister Dr. K Sudhakar has directed officials to screen suspected cases in the districts bordering Kerala.

What is tomato fever?

Tomato flu or Tomato fever is a rare viral disease, that causes red-colored rashes, skin irritation, and dehydration among kids under five years of age. The infection gets its name due to the blisters appearing like tomatoes on the body of the infected kids. Infected children get red blisters of the size of tomatoes on the body along with high fever, severe body ache, joint swelling, and fatigue. As the symptoms are similar to Chikungunya, it is also attributed as the after-effect of Chikungunya. Doctors have advised parents to keep kids hydrated along with proper hygiene during the summer and rainy days.