Shaswot cough

A terrible disease which causes violent coughing, upper and lower respiratory congestion, lung atrophy and eventual death.

Transmission & Vectors

Airborne particles

Causes

Bacterial

Symptoms

Fever, vertigo, coughing, upper respiratory congestion leading to infection, lower respiratory congestion leading to infection, fatigue, atrophy of the lungs, heart arrhythmia and eventual death.

Treatment

The most common treatment to ease the discomfort associated with shaswot cough is a vaporous tea of anise, thyme and elderberry. The tea is usually consumed after the vapor has dissipated: the tea will have cooled enough for comfortable consumption and the vapor will have dissipated the worst of the coughing long enough to allow the patient to consume without vomiting.
Most town gardens grow anise, thyme, fennel, mint and elderberry specifically for easing the symptoms of shaswot cough. Peppermint, wintergreen mint, and catmint are all cultivated and used in teas.
Families with the means cultivate horseradish and echinacea in addition to the other curatives. Many families have gained a taste for horseradish and it's become popular in food as well as medicinally.

Prognosis

Most people with shaswot cough die within 10-15 weeks. The disease is prolonged and usually results in extreme fatigue and a slow death.

Sequela

Pneumonia, allergic asthma and bronchitis are commonly comorbid with shaswot cough.

Prevention

Due to the highly contagious nature of this illness, those who are diagnosed with shaswot cough must be quarantined and any visitors must be masked.

History

Shaswot literally means "restlessness" in one of the ancient dialects of Old Ladi and the cough has been part of Westerheim's history since record-keeping began. No effective cures have been found in the millennia of its existence and the best doctors can hope for is to ease the pain and suffering of the afflicted.
Some famous people who died from shaswot cough:

• Geruff Hadleigh II - 605
• Igraine Hummel - 610
• Marina of Qense - 627

Type

Bacterial

Cycle

Short-term

Rarity

Uncommon