how tomato fever spread - #18246
I am really worried about this new thing called tomato fever. I don’t know if you heard about it, but my little nephew came down with a weird rash and high fever last week, and they're saying it could be tomato fever. He was playing with some kids in the neighborhood, and I'm just trying to figure out how tomato fever spread in the first place. The doctors said they think he caught it during a playdate, but they didn’t explain the details. Like, can it spread just by touching things the other kids touched? They all had been playing with some toys outside, and I’m freaking out thinking about how tomato fever spread among so many kids. Does that mean we should keep them away from each other until we really know how tomato fever spread? Or does it require something more direct, like close face-to-face contact? I’ve seen a few reports suggesting it might be linked to viral infections but nothing clear. Can't help but overthink it! I’m just trying to protect my family from this and understand how tomato fever spread exactly!
100% Anonymously
No sign-up needed.

Doctors' responses
Tomato fever isn’t technically a medically defined condition, but it’s often talked about in connection with a viral infection, sometimes linked to hand, foot, and mouth disease, which is caused by enteroviruses. These viruses mostly spread through close contact and respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Kids can catch this virus from surfaces or objects touched by an infected person or have been contaminated with fluids like saliva or nasal secretions. That’s why it’s quite possible your nephew may have gotten it during a playdate, through shared toys or touching the same surfaces as an infected child. Maintaining good hygiene, like regular hand washing and avoiding close contact with someone showing symptoms, helps in minimizing spreading risks. When dealing with children, ensure they wash their hands thoroughly and frequently, especially before eating or touching their faces. When symptoms are present, it would be wise to minimize interactions until recovery. If there’s a suspicion of this infection in your nephew, or if he develops red-flag symptoms like difficulty breathing or severe headache, it’s best to seek medical evaluation to rule out more serious conditions. Provided that guidance from your nephew’s doctor suggests common self-limited viral infection, the focus should be on comfort and maintaining hydration.
100% Anonymously
Get expert answers anytime, completely confidential. No sign-up needed.
About our doctors
Only qualified doctors who have confirmed the availability of medical education and other certificates of medical practice consult on our service. You can check the qualification confirmation in the doctor's profile.