In view of the increasing incidences of the Hand Foot Mouth Disease ( HFMD) commonly called tomato flu, the State Health department has entered an alert mode. On Tuesday, the secretary in charge of the State Health and Family Welfare department R Rajesh Kumar directed all the district magistrates (DMs) and the Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) to keep a strict vigil on the situation of tomato flu in their districts. He said that all the doctors and other health workers working in all government and private hospitals and health centres should be sensitised about all aspects of the disease. Kumar said that the Asha workers should be asked to create awareness in the general public on the preventive measures about the disease.
The HFM infection spreads from droplet infection, by sneezing or coughing of the infected person. The name tomato flu for the HFMD comes from the major symptom of the disease, tomato shaped blisters in the body parts of the patient. The primary symptoms of the disease include fever, body ache, rashes and pain in the joints. The symptoms also include fatigue, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea and swelling of joints.
The doctors suggest that the patient with Tomato flu should be isolated, the rashes should not be rubbed and masks should be worn. Tomato flu is a self limiting disease and by keeping simple precautions it can be cured. The consumption of a protein rich diet, fruits and green leafy vegetables is recommended in the infection.