Other Names

Snow Plague (ambiguous), Twisting Plague

Description

One of a handful of fevers known to cut through the Ironlands from time to time, most commonly in the winter. It's exceedingly rare for one member of a household to fall ill without the rest following suit, but the plague doesn't always grip an entire circle at a time. Why some are spared and some not (whether in regards to contracting the illness or failing to recover from it) is poorly understood, but most suspect the difference is of a moral nature. The course of the illness can vary from days to months, depending mostly upon the initial health of the afflicted and how well the disease is managed.

Symptoms

The first signature symptom is vertigo in passing episodes, though some sufferers may be feverish before these episodes begin. In either case, the fever persists throughout the course of the illness—most often, it is dangerously high, but its intensity can fluctuate. Once the fever has taken hold, fatigue swiftly sets in and worsens as time passes. 

In tandem with these more typical snow plague symptoms of fever and fatigue, this disease causes the sufferer's coordination to deteriorate. Bouts of dizziness begin and have shorter periods of remission between them as the disease progresses. More rarely, serious difficulties in perceiving and controlling one's movement can occur. This begins with disturbances in gait and posture and sometimes progresses as far as practical paralysis when not guided by another's hand.

Treatment

The typical application of Feverdamp aids in keeping body temperatures under control. Any medical treatments for other symptoms have had little effect, so the only universally recommended treatment is rest and prayer.

Prognosis

If left untreated, the fever has the potential to turn lethal at any time. The afflicted also have a high chance of incurring serious falls, especially in more advanced cases of the illness. Overall, if managed with sufficient medication and rest, mortality is fairly low compared to other snow plagues. Once the illness has run its course, recovery is typically swift. A few rare cases may continue to have issues with balance or movement, but these will almost always improve with time.