Tomato Flu Specialist Doctor in Mumbai The tomato flu was first identified in the Kollam district of Kerala on May 6, 2022. It has been reported from at least four states till now – Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, and Odisha. The disease is best described as a clinical variant of the viral hand, foot, and mouth disease, a common infectious disease targeting mostly young children aged 1 – 10 years and immunocompromised adults, and sometimes exposed immune competent adults. This disease is not at all related to SARS CoV – 2, monkey pox, dengue or chikungunya. It is characterized by fever, joint pain and rashes. This may be accompanied by other symptoms such as diarrhea, body aches, dehydration, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. Tomato flu has 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. The disease is highly contagious. Hence it is mandatory to follow careful isolation of confirmed or suspected cases. The isolation should be followed for 5 – 7 days from symptom onset to prevent the spread of infection to other children and adults. The disease is self – limiting illness and there is no specific medications to treat it. There is only requirement of supportive and symptomatic treatment. It is non – life threatening. The maintenance of proper hygiene and sanitization of the surroundings as well as preventing the infected child from sharing toys, clothes, food, or other items with other non – infected children. As yet, no vaccines are available for prevention of tomato flu.