Lancet Warns About 'Tomato Flu' In India That Leaves Children With Red Blisters
NDTV
The infection is called 'tomato flu' because of the red, painful blisters that appear on a patient's body and enlarge to the size of a tomato.
Doctors have sounded an alarm over a new illness that is gaining a foothold in India. 'Tomato flu', as it is commonly called, is a new type of hand, foot and mouth disease and cases have been found in Kerala and Odisha. According to Lancet Respiratory Journal, cases of 'tomato flu' were first reported in Kerala's Kollam and May 6 and has so far infected 82 children. These kids are under the age of 5, the Lancet report further said.
"Just as we are dealing with the probable emergence of fourth wave of Covid-19, a new virus known as tomato flu, or tomato fever, has emerged in India in the state of Kerala in children younger than 5 years," Lancet said in its report.
The infectious disease is caused by intestinal viruses and is rare in adults as they usually have immune systems strong enough to defend them from the virus.
The infection has been named 'tomato flu' because of the red, painful blisters that appear on a patient's body and gradually enlarge to the size of a tomato.
