Thiruvananthapuram: Advance Virology Institute in Thiruvananthapuram has found that the infection of Coxsackievirus causes tomato flu, which spreads in infants and young children. 

Coxsackie belongs to a group of enterovirus. Director of Advance Virology Institute Dr E Sreekumar informed that the A6 and A16 variants of the pathogen are spreading in the state currently. The genetic analysis of the samples collected from Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts were conducted at the Advance Virology Institute. 

Tomato fever has been diagnosed among children and in elders at rare instances in most of the districts in the state. It spreads via contact and fluids from the nose and throat. Though a comparatively less dangerous disease, tomato fever may cause edema (swelling caused by fluid trappped in lungs) in certain severe cases. 

Symptoms

  • Minor fever
  • Pustules formed inside mouth, tongue and gums
  • Throat pain and difficulty to swallow food
  • Red rashes and pustules on legs and hands
  • The pustules will dry within a week