⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ THE CURSE ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
"The Curse" is a seldom known and enigmatic condition where the infected individual begins sprouting hornlike growths all over their body, eventually disfiguring them into a mound of calcified flesh and bone. Only around 5 known people have been infected.
It is separated into 4 distinct stages.
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ STAGES ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
STAGE ONE In the first stage, many of the symptoms can be easily mistaken as a flu or other common illness. It can also be mistaken as seasonal allergies or urticaria. This is the list of identified symptoms.
- Unexplained fever - Ache or neuropathic itch - Ache inside the muscle and bones - A feeling of something underneath the skin - In rare cases, avoidance of other people.
This stage can be referred to as the "false flu" stage.
STAGE TWO After the first stage, symptoms usually progress 4-8 weeks later, however, it has been reported that it can be as little as 2 weeks. Small growths that have a similar shape of horns start to develop from underneath the skin, these growths typically appear on the face, neck, and shoulders. The growths are often darkly colored and can be easily overlooked by others. Usually, this stage is slightly painful but can be relieved through generic over-the-counter pain medication.
STAGE THREE Soon after, the growths will begin spreading to other parts of the body, as well as continuing to increase in size. This is usually extremely painful as the growths are beginning to tear apart flesh and muscle, along with having a chance to puncture internal organs, break bones, and paralyze the infected. In some cases, the skin surrounding the growths can begin to mutate and resemble said growths. Infected individuals usually die in this stage due to cardiac arrest.
STAGE FOUR If the infected individual hasn’t died yet, the curse will progress even more. The growth will spread to the rest of the body, likely completely paralyzing the infected. Because of this, it is hard for the infected to survive on their own due to not being able to eat, drink, or breathe. The growth may even spread to the hair, calcifying it too. Victims in this stage are unrecognizable and are often in a coma-like state.
There is a "Stage 5" which refers to the curse still taking over the body even after death.
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ PROGNOSIS ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
65% of victims die due to other causes(such as euthanasia, whether voluntarily or not.) while only 35% due to the curse itself.
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ TREATMENT ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
There isn’t any known treatment other than relieving symptoms via nitrous oxide for sedation and hydrocodone for pain.
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ PREVENTION ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
There isn’t any known ways to prevent it as the cause is unknown other than staying healthy and practicing good hygiene.
