Boneplague

Calcification Plague

Calcification Plague, known in Common as Boneplague, is an infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria that is believed to be partially related to typical plague bacteria, though it is not known exactly how. The bacteria excrete large amounts of calcium crystals within the body, forming bone-like protrusions and lesions resembling firm, white-yellow papules, plaques, or nodules upon the skin. These lesions are sometimes mistaken for symptoms for other illnesses and ignored, which can result in fatalities as calcifications move from skin and bone to internal organs.

The symptoms for Boneplague typically start with aching joints and a fever, followed by the formation of what initially appear to be bone spurs, and finally skin calcifications. The symptoms usually begin within fourteen days of exposure to the bacteria, which is typically transmitted by infected animal bites, fleas, or by contact with the bodily fluids of another infected person, including intercourse. Boneplague has been identified as infecting some species of animals, making it zoonotic, but also infecting Undead as well, particularly Zombies. While infected Undead are slower than standard Undead, they are more resilient and the calcifications on their bodies ultimately become club or blade-like weapons.

Boneplague is considered extremely rare, with fewer than 1000 cases a year and the majority of those coming from The Silver Wastes, southern Karadal, and some of the islands of Duraloth. Around fifty cases a year come from the Isle of Swords, though the Undead population there is believed to be a major carrier.

Transmission & Vectors

The bacteria for Boneplague are typically transmitted by infected animal bites, flea bites, or by contact with the bodily fluids of another person. The condition is infectious after twelve days of contracting the bacteria, though it can take up to fourteen days for symptoms to show.

However, not all carriers show symptoms of infection, with one in five that come into contact with the disease remaining completely unaffected. In these hosts, it has been shown that the bacteria dies off within twenty-eight days of contracting the bacteria, and they are no longer infectious after this time. Immunity to the disease seems arbitrary and has no known correlations at this time.

Causes

Boneplague is caused by a strain of bacteria believed to be related to the standard plague, though it behaves quite differently in many respects. It is believed that the bacteria can lie dormant for decades until a suitable host revives them. Boneplague typically only infects rodents, pigs, some mustelids. fleas, and some kinds of Sapients.

Symptoms

The earliest symptoms of Boneplague are aching joints accompanied by a fever, similar to the flu. However, these are soon followed by the appearance of bone spurs, typically on the hands and feet, though they have also been reported upon the knees, elbows, shoulders, hips, and jaw.

After these, skin calcifications begin, with organs slowly succumbing to calcification in late stage. Once this begins, it becomes difficult for the sufferer to breath, eat, or use the bathroom due to pain, though responses to external stimuli are reduced. Some sufferers report visible calcium crystals being expelled in urine and faeces.

Treatment

If diagnosed quickly and not written off as another illness, Boneplague is fairly responsive to antibiotic medicines and magical healing. Pre-symptomatic carriers can generally be cured with a single dose of medicine or a single spell, while later stages may require multiple doses or spells.

Spell-based healing can be expensive, though many alchemists, herbologists, and all practical medicine centres will carry antibiotics and general disease-curing potions.

Prognosis

While Boneplague typically progresses slower than regular plague, it still progresses relatively rapidly once symptoms begin and can kill within two to twelve days (depending on age, health, etc). Without treatment, mortality is 100%. Pre-symptomatic treatment results in a 2% mortality rate, pre-lesion treatment has a 12% mortality rate, while late stage treatment results in a 25% mortality rate.

Sequela

Boneplague can result in long term joint problems as well as scarring from skin lesions. Late stage cures often result in long term organ damage that requires permanent medication to manage, and many sufferers report itchy skin and muscle weakness.

Recovery from Boneplague does not guarantee to make the sufferer immune, though some individuals do gain immunity after contracting the disease.

Affected Groups

Boneplague typically infects rodents, pigs, some mustelids, fleas, and some types of Mortal Sapients. It is also known to "infect" Undead, though in this case it tends to make the Undead stronger.

Serpensia, Nekoto, Kawako, Centaurs, Minotaurs, and Tritonae are immune to Boneplague, though they can still carry it and infect others.

Contents

Type

Bacterial

Origin

Natural

Cycle

Short-term

Rarity

Extremely Rare