Green Lung

Green lung is a disease caused by inhalation of the gametes from Hikru plants. While not necessarily lethal initially, long term inhalation of the plankton-like spores can cause illness so severe that there may be permanent damage to the lungs, resulting in shortened lifespan.

Transmission & Vectors

Green lung is transmitted through the air, and cannot be inherited. It is also not contagious, and those who come into contact with the affected will be unharmed.

Causes

This disease is caused by inhalation of the spores of a particular plant. When the spores reach the lungs, they coat and attach to the cilia, and inhibit their function.

Symptoms

Symptoms of green lung include wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, and green mucus coming up from the lungs.

Treatment

There is no known cure for green lung, however many believe that breathing in cool sea air soothes the effects of the disease. For this reason, many of those affected move to villages by the sea shores, in hopes that the progression of their green lung will be stunted. In addition, the attacks can be soothed by Bangi, however this is not a cure, and only helps to make the respiratory systems less severe.

Prognosis

The outlook for those affected is dependent on the severity of the condition. Many live happy lives with the condition, with only the occasional cough and wheezing episodes, which can be mitigated with Bangi gel. In other more severe cases where people have been breathing in the spores too long or too frequently, the lifespan of the person is affected, with them more likely to die of the coughing fits, unable to get enough oxygen.

Prevention

The main prevention for green lung is to wear a fabric covering around the nose and mouth when around a Hikru plant. While this will not save the user from particularly dense clouds of the seeds, it will help to prevent breathing them in.

Type

Physiological

Origin

Natural

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Uncommon

Affected Species

• Thlika