Chill Pox

Varicella Psychros

Varicella Psychros, known in Common as Chill Pox or Frosty Pox, is a variant of the Chickenpox virus that has been mutated through magical means, usually by exposure to cold magic or raw magical effects in cold conditions. Chill Pox is therefore most commonly seen in the northernmost regions of Eirinn and some of the islands located in the waters to the south of The Silver Wastes. Like Chickenpox, Chill Pox is characterised by an itchy skin rash, sores/blisters, tiredness, and headaches, but this is where the similarities typically end. The rash of Chill Pox has a distinctive blue to white colour to it that reflects light in a manner similar to snow, and instead of a fever it instead produces chills which trick the body into a cold environment response, often resulting in dehydration.

Symptoms typically last seven to ten days and the illness can lead to further complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, and bacterial skin infections. However, unlike Chickenpox, children very rarely catch Chill Pox, and it is believed that you cannot contract it unless you have already had Chickenpox itself, similar to Shingles. The incubation period of Chill Pox is quite long, 30 days, meaning it can often be difficult to discover where infection occurred, and an infected individual will become infections one to two days before symptoms develop. It is a predominantly airborne disease spread by person-to-person transmission, typically by coughing, sneezing, or by direct contact with the sores/rash.

Considered an Uncommon illness, Chill Pox is rarely fatal by itself, though dehydration can cause significant worries and it can lead to more serious conditions that can complicate recovery. The majority of Chill Pox-related deaths are attributed to the complications rather than the disease itself.

Transmission & Vectors

The Chill Pox virus can spontaneously arise via the mutation of the Chickenpox virus in areas of intense cold magic or where raw mana flows in cold environments. A person that contracts the illness through spontaneous mutation, rather than catching it from another person, is known as a Origin Patient, or a Zero Patient.

Outside of spontaneous mutation, Chill Pox is typically airborne and transmitted by an infected person coughing, sneezing, talking, or otherwise projecting particles into the air. The virus does not typically survive for vary long on surfaces, though can still be transmitted by a non-infected person immediately touching a surface that an infected person has transmitted particles to. Chill Pox can also be contracted by coming into contact with the rash and/or blisters.

Causes

Chill Pox is caused by a mutated variant of the Chickenpox virus, which typically mutates when exposed to high concentrations of intense cold magic, or is formed when raw mana runs rampant through cold environments. While Chill Pox initially requires intense cold to form, it does not require it to spread and there have been cases of Chill Pox recorded all across the world.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Chill Pox generally start with tiredness, headaches, and chills, followed by the characteristic blue-white rash and weeping blisters/sores. These symptoms typically worsen over the first five days, then gradually recede as the disease runs its course. Some sufferers may experience more intense chills than others, especially if they are already within a cold environment, which can further lead to dehydration.

Treatment

Chill Pox is self-limiting and typically goes away on its own, though the symptoms can be treated to ease discomfort. This is usually in the form of topical ointments or lotions to ease the itchiness of the rash, and painkillers to ease headaches. Warm fluids such as ginger tea or echinacea and rose hip infusions are generally recommended to assist with chills.

Where available, potions against disease or Cure Disease spells can be used to quickly combat the illness, though most consider this a waste of resources outside of extreme cases.

Prognosis

The majority of Chill Pox infections result in complete recovery, though some cases result in complications which may take longer to recover from. Fewer than 200 people a year die from Chill Pox, though most of these cases are attributed to complications arising from the disease, rather than the disease itself.

Sequela

Complications arising from the disease, while rare, can include pneumonia, encephalitis, and bacterial skin infections. These complications usually occur as a result of exposure to other bacteria or viruses while sick, and rarely occur spontaneously. Skin infections are more likely if a sufferer repeatedly scratches their rashes, which can then lead to Pox Scars.

Contents

Type

Magical

Rarity

Uncommon