Seaman's Rot

About

A disease which most often strikes the feet of sailors who spend excessive amounts of time in constant wet and cold conditions. Seaman's Rot is a flesh-eating disease (similar to leprosy, gangrene, and immersion foot). A slow necrosis of the flesh in affected areas sets in and gradually spreads throughout the body. Sailors that are missing limbs, fingers and toes, ears, noses, etc, may well be counted amongst the few lucky survivors of this affliction.

Contagion

Virulence

Moderately contagious

Vector(s)

Prolonged physical proximity and contact with afflicted tissues, or the environmental factors which may lead to the disease.

Prevention

Regular inspection, cleaning, and drying of feet and other exposed body parts.

Course

Incubation

1-6 days.

Contagious

Victims of this disease are not actually contagious ina real sense. Such transmission of the disease is more likely a result of a shared exposure and delayed onset in later victims.

Symptoms

Grey or white patches of exposed skin, swollen tissues, numbness and loss of sensation in extremities. In advanced cases, extreme pain, sloughing off of tissues, and decreased mobility are common.

Treatment

Cureability

Likely. Cures are possible, requiring treatment with strong antibiotics, and debridement of infected tissues. while the former is not generally available at sea, the physical removal of stricken tissues is as far away as a fire-heated knife. In the absence of fire, packing the afflicted area with salt is an alternate to cauterization.

Medicinal

Strong antibiotics.

Surgical

Debridement of afflicted tissues and cauterization with heat metal, fire, or packed salt.

Stories

Helm (fifty word fantasy)

See Also

Ak'har Salo

Tavon Denish