Diseases

This is a list of diseases, disorders and maladies specific to the world of Vita. Other diseases existing on our world also exist in Vita; these are merely unique to the setting.

Although most of these diseases can be cured by magical healers or human doctors, most of Anaxas' poor rely on home remedies. Here is a list of common home remedies used in the Victorian era, and the Vegetation page has further information about Vita-specific herbs and plants that might help cure these ailments and others.

Pilot's Lung

This disorder is caused by sustained journeys at a high altitude. It is common among aeroship pilots. Symptoms include a difficulty breathing nearer to sea level, mental fatigue, loss of short-term memory, pain while breathing and coughing up blood. A person suffering from this disorder can cure it by spending more time on land and less time in the skies; medicine exists to quell the symptoms, but only a rest from aeroship piloting can cure the disorder.

Minerracints

These parasites can cause abdominal pain and bloodied vomit. They take residence in the stomach after eating improperly prepared garmon. Human-to-human transmission is nigh-impossible. These little worms are strangely tolerant of acid, but are not so resistant to bases. Old-Wives remedies include drinking milk and sippa juice, which has been shown to work but only in early stages of infestation. Once the parasites have become firmly housed in the stomach, they can lead to excruciating ulcers and even internal bleeding. In this case, only the strongest of medications can help. (Commonly recommended: antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and small doses of poison, followed shortly by charcoal to absorb any left unconsumed by the worms)

Klakkis Morosia

Commonly "Morosia Mania," this disease effects both mind and body. Physically, this virus causes glandular swelling throughout the body and a hypo-active immune system, allowing people suffering from Morosia to become infected by other diseases more easily. Mentally, the disease attacks impulse-control and mood centers of the brain, as well as the central nervous system. In attacking the impulse control and mood centers, people are often manic, bouncing of the walls, exhibiting rapid speech, hyperactivity, hyper religiosity, and often delusions of grandeur. In attacking the central nervous system, it increases gamma-aminobutyric acid production/reception, leading to bodily depression (lethargic movement, uncoordinated motion, etc.- effect similar to high alcohol consumption), which usually causes a great deal of frustration for the patient, as they grow increasingly desirous of activity, but being too cumbersome in motion to carry out their desires. If not treated within the first week of infection, there is very little hope for recovery, as the brain and central nervous system begin to break down. Patients rarely survive longer than three weeks, and the rare survivor is often brain-dead or severely handicapped. They are carriers for life, and their bodies must be treated with great care. Often, they are institutionalized and quarantined until death. Antibiotics and steroids are often prescribed, and vaccinations are the best option.

The Pathos

The Pathos is a degenerative disease that causes depression and a loss of hope. It is commonly triggered by long excursions at sea. This condition disproportionately affects pirates, leading many to believe it is a curse (see The Legend of the Yellow Man).

The disease is psychological in its effects. It usually begins as an overwhelming feeling of despair, and can manifest suddenly or over a period of time. This feeling is so intense that it causes many pirates to contemplate or attempt suicide. If the victim does not kill himself, the disease eventually causes insanity marked by irrational feelings of paranoia, involuntary actions and homicidal tendencies. Generally after a couple years, the disease becomes more malignant, causing a total lack of motor function.

There is no known cure for the Pathos, even among the galdori, because the true cause is still unknown.

Poctout

This disease often lasts between a half- to full week. It produces tiny, pimple-like welts on the skin, mostly on the neck, back, and buttocks. It is extremely irritating, causing itching and dryness. Various lotions may be applied topically for relief. Other symptoms include swollen and sore throat, difficulty breathing, diarrhea and lethargy. Although it doesn't last long, patients are carriers for another two weeks, and should be kept away from infants and the elderly, as well as those with Klakkis Morosia. This disease often infects children 6-13, though it can be contracted at any age. The older the patient, the greater likelihood of increased welts and scarring. Recommended treatment is bed rest and liquid. Solids don't tend to stick around long.

Flinthora

A mental disorder similar to Pica, though more specific, and including other symptoms. As with Pica, the patient desires to consume non-edible products, though with Flinthora the patient tends to desire uncooked meat and skin. Barring obvious complications of such behavior (Minerracints, particularly), patients urges are so strong that they will attack their own limbs in attempt to consume raw flesh. Though they seem to be mentally certain that their behavior is unusual and wrong, they are often unable to repress their urges. Patients often wither away, as they lack impetus to eat other food. However, therapies are being developed that slowly re-introduce patients to normal foods. Flinthora is rare, but it has created a plethora of myths on flesh-eating monsters and witches such as Mother Skeleton, particularly in the frigid regions of the world where the disorder is more prevalent.

Vendler Rot

A bacteria known as Vendler breed in uncleanly living quarters and areas where still water is common. They burrow into a persons skin, and finding the conditions of living perfect, reproduce quickly, and feed off of the host's living flesh. The host can't handle the infection and dies after the bacteria reaches the heart, whereupon Vendler continue to feed until there is nothing left of the dead organism. After this period of time, most of the bacteria died, but many have been passed on to another host through very close contact or ingestion of dirty water.

The symptoms: The earliest symptoms are permanent numbness in the tips of fingers and toes, that turn black as time progresses and as the limbs begin to decay. Eventually the hand or foot stops working, then the arm or leg, and by the time it's progressed farther up, you'd be in a lot of pain as your major organs begin to die. The process is slow, however, and it usually takes three to four months before a hand stops working completely.

The cure: At its earliest stages, limb removal is an option that many people who can't afford the expensive medicine opt to take, but this doesn't always stop the bacteria, it only gets rid of the dead limb. At later stages, there is medicine that kills the bacteria, but has the unfortunate effect of making the limb unable to feel anything (for example, you get a shot in your hand, you'll still be able to move it but feeling will be gone). Any dead flesh or limbs must be removed, or the bacteria will re attack your arm.

Hypnagogous

A liver disease affecting wicks. It is a mutation of the liver cells responsible for the conversion of glucose to glycogen. Instead of producing glycogen properly, a similar but fundamentally different polysaccharide is produced by a fraction of the liver cells. This polymer interacts with the cells in the region of the brain responsible for focus and alertness. A sufferer of hypnagogous will seem to be in a trance, unable to function properly. If the wick is not attended to for the month or so this disease acutely affects him or her, they will die; their mental state is semi-vegetative. After this period, however, the brain develops a tolerance to the mutation and life returns to normal over the course of a few weeks. The only permanent effect of hypnagogous is that the inner eyelids are yellowed.

Purillanesis

Purillanesis is an auto-immune disease which conflicts with the main growth hormone in humans and wicks. The immune system recognises growth hormones incorrectly as foreign material and diverts it all to the lymphatic system. Here it builds up in lymph nodes, under the arm, near the tonsils, and around the groin.

For reasons unknown, in 95% of cases the effects revert after approximately three years, and the hormones are released over a period of months, giving the sufferer an enormous growth spurt and a ravenous appetite, particularly if the disease occurred during early puberty.

The Pox

Gutter pox, commonly just called the pox, is a disease often found in the dirty, close quarters of the slums of cities, though it does occur in other areas. It's unknown what causes it, but the symptoms include a blistering rash that circles around the trunk of the body and a very high fever that can cause seizures. The fever can kill children, especially if they're young, or leave them with permanent brain damage. The lesions can leave scars if the scabs are picked at. It can be transmitted by touching open lesions, which makes it difficult to treat. The usual treatment is to wrap the trunk of the sick person with gauze and, if possible, give cold baths to combat the fever. Another treatment that helps the fever is chamomile tea, though it's not always an effective treatment. For the richer members of society, a new drug called aspirin is known to reduce fever very well. Unfortunately, aspirin is expensive and not commonly available unless you're galdori. The disease usually runs its course within a couple weeks.

Luckily, once someone gets a case of the pox, they are usually immune to it for the rest of their life. It's considered a childhood disease, though it is not uncommon for adults to get a second case of the pox if they're under extreme stress. Usually, adults get a milder case, though it can cause miscarriage or stillbirth if a pregnant woman gets it.