COAL DUST FEVER!!! wow*

Coal Dust Fever is a simple disease spread by the inhalation of lignite (coal dust) that causes symptoms such as pneumonia (chronic respiratory ineffectiveness or infection of the lungs), shortness of breath, and a few other related symptoms. Or so we thought. Coal Dust Fever is suspected to be a demonic mental parasite that feeds off of important brain matter, and causes varied very unfavorable symptoms in a host. Coal Dust Fever is often found in coal in worlds with significant demonic influence since the demon plagues do not just leave, they leave something behind. Demonic larvae that grow over hundreds of years, or do whatever they're doing right now. Common stages include the following;

1. the affected starts coughing
2. coughing comes back on and off
3. affected descends into a fever
4. begins to shake
5. shaking ceases; the patient may have internal bleeding
6. reduced brain function and violent muscle spasms
7. patient falls into a coma
8. has a very high fever
9. patient wakes, fever recedes
10. Demon now has full control over the patient

By the seventh stage, the patient is unsaveable, no records have ever been found of successful treatment. It is best to get the body cleansed by a priest, and then burned, with the brain being disposed of separately. An important thing to remember is that this disease only occurs on planets that have had a demon plauge, and that coal dust is still dangerous on its own.

Transmission & Vectors

It is often spread by airborne demon brain worm larvae feeding on carbon particulates in the coal.

Causes

When Demon plagues ravage a world, they leave behind many corpses, which often have brain worm larvae feeding on them. When these corpses are buried and compressed underground, the worms, being so small, survive, just going dormant.

Symptoms

Most notable symptoms are intense muscle spasms.

Treatment

Uhhh... generally, the infected have to be cleansed by holy rituals done by high-ranking priests, but the demonic madness will still remain, so most people in that stage are ritually sacrificed.

Prognosis

1. the affected starts coughing
2. coughing comes back on and off
3. affected descends into a fever
4. begins to shake
5. shaking ceases; the patient may have internal bleeding
6. reduced brain function and violent muscle spasms
7. patient falls into a coma
8. has a very high fever
9. patient wakes, fever recedes
10. Demon now has full control over the patient

Sequela

Once you get to the last stage, the person is entirely corrupt, possessed or not.

Affected Groups

Any sentient species with a brain can be host to the affliction.

Hosts & Carriers

As formerly stated, any sentient fauna.

Prevention

Preventation is easy and cheap! don't go into the coal mines! Or wear a respirator. Or a quality face mask.

Epidemiology

This disease can spread quite easily from the source. For example, if somebody knocks a pile of infested coal over and breathes in the dust, they'll probably catch it, but it gets worse when you burn it. Since the larvae hail from hell, they are immune to fire, meaning burning the coal allows them to pollute the air, infecting entire towns.

History

This disease has popped up multiple times throughout human history, making it incredibly hard to track.

Cultural Reception

The affected are commonly thought of as either possessed by a demon (they are) or a messenger of the hells.

Type

Mental

Origin

Magical

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Unique