Desert Fever

Ater Coccidioidomycosis

Desert Fever, also known as Black Sand Fever and medically called Ater Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection similar to Valley Fever, though it is significantly more debilitating and twice as deadly. It is caused by the Coccidioides Ater variant of the Coccidioides fungus; so named because the fungus causes the soil within which it is found to turn black or dusky, as well as causing a dusky black powdery substance to be expelled from infected individuals. This powder causes uncontrollable itching when it comes into contact with the skin, and causes black mucus to form within the lungs.

Desert Fever is prominent in a very limited number of places within A'arde, as the fungus only thrives in very specific environments and desert soil types.

Transmission & Vectors

Coccidioides Ater can only be transmitted by disturbing the desert soil within which the fungus resides. It is not infectious through any other means, though soil disturbances can potentially infect multiple people at once.

Causes

Desert Fever is caused by Coccidioides Ater the strain of the Coccidioides fungus.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of Desert Fever are a cough involving blackened mucus that expels black powder, and a rash caused by skin contact with said powder. These symptoms are what separate Desert Fever from regular Valley Fever, and occur in all instances of infection without fail.

Patients may present with no other symptoms, though many show other symptoms on top of the identifying ones. Additional symptoms include fever, tiredness, shortness of breath, chest pain when breathing in, night sweats, headache, and joint pain (mainly in the ankles, knees and wrists).

Treatment

Desert Fever can only be treated by the medicinal potion "Ater Remedium", also known as Black Desert Remedy. The potion is fairly difficult to make, as it requires the harvesting of Black Dust Mushrooms, which only grow in the blackened sandy soils created by the presence of Coccidioides Ater.

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