Symbiotic Rheumatism
Symbiotic rheumatism is a disorder among Verdials wherein a sufferer's Caudal lichen symbiote grows too rapidly, painfully intruding into the joints and connective tissue of the sufferer.
Causes
Under normal circumstances, a Verdial's symbiote grows at a manageable rate. The anti-tumorogenic factors at play in a base Human body are also in play in a Verdial's body, preventing overgrowth. In the case of symbiotic rheumatism, however, the symbiote grows faster than the Verdial's body can manage, intruding on adjacent tissues. Because the patient's joints and connective tissues move the most and such over-aggressive symbiotes produce more growth-promoting factors when moved, these tissues become damaged and inflamed more quickly than others, exhibiting the disorder's characteristic dull ache on exertion.
Symptoms
Sufferers of symbiotic rheumatism exhibit joint swelling, joint stiffness, and a dull ache in the joints and tendons (especially upon exertion). As the disorder progresses, further symbiote intrusion into organs and vascular tissue can cause ischemia, nerve damage, and (in severe cases) ischemic tissue necrosis.
Treatment
Before the advent of modern therapeutic methods, the only way to prevent progression of symbiotic rheumatism was to inhibit the growth of the patient's symbiote through indirect means. Treatment included remaining secluded from sunlight and reducing water intake. These treatments were not fool-proof and reduced the quality of life of patients while only slowing the progression of the disorder. Surgical intervention is sometimes required in acute cases, as the growth of the symbiote intrudes on vital organs or fragments of the symbiote break off (metastasize) to invade other tissues in the body.
As of the year 9,999 AR, however, pharmaceutical interventions have allowed symbiotic rheumatism suffers to live normal lives. Scientists at the Ghostleaf Foundation have developed various pharmaceuticals to stimulate (in the case of Verdialization) or inhibit (in the case of symbiotic rheumatism) the growth of Caudal lichens in vivo. The Foundation's proprietary fungicide is capable of preventing the further growth of Caudal lichen by slowing the replication of the fungal component of the lichen. When starting treatment, a sample of the patient's symbiote will be preserved for later reintroduction in case of an otherwise fatal overdose. Regular blood testing can confirm the drug's effect and allow doctors to regulate the dosage. Side-affects are generally mild and include nausea, flimsy lichen sheathe, and susceptibility to sunburn (to which Verdials are otherwise nearly immune severe side-effects are very rare and include renal damage and symbiote damage.
Prognosis
Most symbiotic rheumatism sufferers have a normal or slightly reduced life expectancy. The pain caused by the disorder constitutes a significant reduction in sufferers' quality of life. Acute cases are rare, but significantly reduce life expectancy when they do occur; for Verdials, acute symbiotic rheumatism is considered to be a form of cancer. With treatment, however, most sufferers of symbiotic rheumatism can live relatively normal lives.
Epidemiology
Symbiotic rheumatism is uncommon and has a heritable genetic component. It can be caused by a congenital predisposition or sporadic mutation.
Type
Fungal
Origin
Mutated
Cycle
Chronic, Acquired & Congenital
Rarity
Rare
Affected Species
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