Dew Tick Disease

Dew Tick Disease is a rare and insidious ailment contracted through the bite of the Dew Tick, a parasitic insect native to the Kargathian Wetlands and Bariatok. This disease, notorious for its debilitating effects and grim prognosis, has cast a shadow over these regions, instilling a deep fear of the tiny arthropods that carry it.
Transmission and Symptoms
The initial stage of Dew Tick Disease begins shortly after a person is bitten by an infected Dew Tick. The bite itself often goes unnoticed, as Dew Ticks are small and their bites are nearly painless. However, within days to weeks, the infection begins to manifest, initially with subtle symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and minor cognitive difficulties. As the disease progresses, it splits into one of two divergent and dreadful paths, determined by how it attacks the nerve cells in the brain.
Common Outcome: General Brain Degeneration
In the most prevalent form of Dew Tick Disease, the infection leads to an overall degeneration of brain function. This progressive neurological decline typically unfolds over a period of about a decade, during which the patient experiences a gradual but relentless deterioration of cognitive and motor abilities. Symptoms may include:

Memory loss and confusion

Impaired judgment and reasoning

Mood swings and personality changes

Muscle weakness and coordination problems

As the disease advances, the affected individual becomes increasingly dependent on others for daily activities. Eventually, the cumulative brain damage leads to a complete loss of bodily functions, culminating in death.
While there is currently no cure for this form of Dew Tick Disease, early intervention with powerful magical treatments can help to repress the symptoms and slow the progression of the disease, providing the patient with a few more years of relatively stable health.
Rare Outcome: Respiratory Failure
The rarer, yet more lethal variant of Dew Tick Disease selectively targets the brain regions that control breathing. This form of the disease is particularly feared due to its rapid and horrifying progression. Within a matter of days, the patient begins to experience:

Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing

Severe anxiety and panic attacks

A sensation of drowning as the lungs start to fail

This acute respiratory distress intensifies quickly, leading to suffocation and death within days of symptom onset. The sensation of slowly drowning is particularly harrowing, making this form of Dew Tick Disease one of the most terrifying afflictions known.
If diagnosed before the onset of severe respiratory symptoms, this variant can sometimes be mitigated with extraordinary magical interventions. However, once the lungs begin to fail, there is no known cure, and only a miracle or the most powerful of healing magics could potentially save the afflicted.
Prevention and Control
Due to the severity and incurable nature of Dew Tick Disease, prevention is paramount. In regions where Dew Ticks are prevalent, residents and travelers are advised to take extensive precautions, including:

Wearing protective clothing to minimize skin exposure

Applying insect repellents known to deter Dew Ticks

Conducting regular checks for ticks after spending time in infested areas

Conclusion
Dew Tick Disease stands as a grim testament to the dangers lurking within the natural world of the Kargathian Wetlands and Bariatok. Its dual outcomes, both devastating in their own right, highlight the urgent need for continued research and innovation in magical medicine to combat this rare but deadly affliction. The fear it instills and the suffering it causes ensure that it remains a significant health concern in these regions.