High fever, severe joint pain and red blisters all over the body: a new pathogen is suspected in more than 80 children in India. According to a report, it is not related to Sars. Nevertheless, caution is advised.
An international research group has given a previously unknown pathogen an unusual name. In a recent publication, researchers report in the journal “The Lancet” on the tomato flu virus, which has caused infectious diseases in more than 80 children in Kerala, India. This is a highly contagious pathogen that causes symptoms similar to flu but also to Covid-19. The infected children suffer from fever, fatigue and headaches, but also vomiting, diarrhea, joint pain and skin rashes. Because of the flu-like symptoms and painful, red blisters on the skin that can grow to the size of a tomato, the tomato flu virus pathogen, the disease has been dubbed tomato flu or tomato fever.
In the period between May 6th and July 26th, 2022, at least 82 children were reported to be infected with the previously unknown pathogen. All infected were under five years old. According to the report, the researchers rate the virus as rare, endemic and not life-threatening. Even if the virus has not yet appeared across the board, it must still be observed and further spread prevented, writes the research team.
So far, experts do not know exactly what they are dealing with in the disease, which was first detected on May 6, 2022 in the Kollam district of Kerala, India. Kerala’s Health Ministry has already taken precautionary measures to monitor the virus infections while preventing them from spreading to other regions of the country.
High fever, skin rashes and severe joint pain are among the symptoms that also occur with chikungunya fever. The painful skin changes, in turn, are more reminiscent of monkeypox, which are currently being detected worldwide. The virus could also be a new variant of the causative agent of what is known as hand, foot and mouth disease. This infectious disease often affects children aged one to five years. However, it can also occur in immunocompromised adults. The research team rules out a relationship to the Sars virus relatively clearly.
So far, according to the report, the new pathogen that causes tomato flu can only be identified by elimination processes. Various tests are done on children who have symptoms, looking for signs of dengue, chikungunya, zika, varicella zoster, and herpes virus infections. As soon as these viral infections can be ruled out, an infection with the new tomato virus is very likely, the researchers write.
The treatment is similar to that for dengue fever or hand, foot and mouth disease. The infected children or suspected cases must be isolated for five to seven days, need rest and plenty of fluids. Otherwise, only medication for symptomatic treatment can be considered. “So far, no antiviral drugs or vaccines are available to treat or prevent tomato flu,” the researchers write. Further follow-up and monitoring for serious consequences and sequelae is needed to better understand the need for potential treatments.