Reptilus Mentis

Reptilus Mentis
A rare psychiatric syndrome that involves a delusion that the affected person believes themselves to be a reptile, usually a large carnivorous lizard, and acts accordingly.

Transmission & Vectors

The condition is individualized and cannot be transmitted from person to person or to an object.

Causes

There are 2 main reason for the development of this disease. The first being a natural yet very rare psychiatric syndrome, where the person has a neurological issue affecting the part of the individuals brain related to its perception of body shape. The second and much more common cause is due to long term ingestion of the mineral Crocidolite.

Symptoms

Those affected have initial symptoms of high fever, chills, itching, and an increased metabolism and heart rate. Additionally they begin to develop paranoia, schizophrenia, sunken, dim and dry eyes, an insatiable thirst and hunger, an obsession with uncooked foods, a desire to be a carnivorous reptile, often hissing, biting, clawing, and crawling on the ground and the eventual delusion that the affected person has become a voracious lizard.

Treatment

Due to the extremely rare nature of this disease, there are not very many records of treatment or cures.
The best hope for an affected individual is to have a high level priest or cleric perform a cure disease spell. Of course this implies that the person has the mental clarity to seek help and the coin to pay for it. Usually only those with well off benefactors, are able to get the help they need and recover.

Prognosis

Conditions will continue to worsen over time with affects becoming more drastic and the individual falling deeper into delusion. The tragic out come is usually death, from their actions or others reactions to them.

Affected Groups

Generally those working in Paluster Marsh or the Serra Dens Mountains are more at risk due to the increased chance encounter with the mineral Crocidolite. Humanoid organisms, in particular mammalians, are more susceptible to this disease through Crocidolite fiber ingestion. Avian and amphibian humanoids have different stomach structures that allow a higher resistance and lower probability of contracting this disease in this way. Reptilian humanoids seem to be immune to the disease, as there is no observable change in the behavior of those who frequent the area and are constantly exposed to the mineral. However, it is not unheard of for all humanoid species to develop this disease through other means.

Hosts & Carriers

There is no flora or fauna that carry this disease, however humanoid organisms can sometimes contract or develop the disease.

Prevention

There is no prevention for the natural mental disorders that lead to this disease. However, prevention does exist for those who would become affected through Crocidolite fiber ingestion. Whenever mining or working with Crocidolite, wear a protective mask or cloth around the nose and mouth, thoroughly wash off all exposed body parts, and seal exposed clothing in a safe bag, box or trunk. As for any possible affected water sources, a fine filter should be used to strain out any dissolved mineral contamination. Utmost care should always be taken when cooking, drinking, and bathing in suspected waters.

Epidemiology

This is a condition of the mind and as such not contagious or transferable.

History

Very little is know about this very rare disease and most information about it is just speculation. There were no known centers of healing in the ancient times and very few records survived after The Sundering. Although the hissing behavior and violence from the stories of the crazed marsh inhabitants living near the Serra Dens Mountains, near the city-state of Cuska, in The Pythos Empire, could be explained in part due to possible Crocidolite ingestion. The swampy waters at the foot of the mountains in the area are still know to this day to have large deposits of Crocidolite washed down from the steep slopes.

Cultural Reception

Since early symptoms are often overlooked as just typical sickness, the infected are generally avoided or in some circumstances treated for their symptoms. However, once the person really begins to show advanced symptoms, hissing, and believing that they are a reptile, the general reactions to the infected are quite severe. Most people become fearful and eventually try to dive the infected out of the community. Those with long term infection are often seen as dangerous and some townsfolk begin to believe that the affected are actual demons, werelizards, or even possessed by evil spirits. If mob mentality takes over the town, the diseased are often hunted down and killed outright.

Type

Mental

Origin

Natural

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Extremely Rare