Kollam: After several cases of tomato fever, also called Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease were reported in the district the health department in the state, as well as border states are on a high alert stepping up screening measures at check posts.
The Tamil Nadu health department has increased its vigil on all the check posts bordering Kerala.
Health, police, and revenue officials are deployed at Walayar check-post from Palakkad district, Kalliyakavali from Thiruvananthapuram and at Theni check posts to scan children below the age of five.
A senior official with the Tamil Nadu health department while speaking to IANS said: "The tomato flu or fever is a self-limiting one and there are no specific drugs for it and if someone is affected with this disease they should be kept in isolation as it spread fast from one person to the other."
Symptoms of Tomato fever
Tomato fever or flu is characterised by rashes and blisters that are red in colour and hence the name. Children under five who are affected by this flu have high fever and body ache along with blisters and rashes on the body.
The infected children will have symptoms of:
» Dehydration
» Stomach pain
» Diarrhea
» Runny nose
» Cough
» Sneeze
» Nausea
» Vomiting
The flu is still largely unidentified and the causes are not known clearly. Whether it's a new viral or an aftereffect of dengue or chikungunya is still not clear.
However, children who show symptoms should be taken to the doctor immediately and should be kept hydrated.
It is reported that in several districts of Kerala children are infected with tomato flu and the state health minister Veena George has called for caution on the disease.
(With inputs from IANS)