Gutrot is a common seasonal illness caused by a virus which sweeps through most populations on Ithria each year in the spring. It does not seem to have reached Aggradar or Qeshir.
It predominantly affects humans, dwarves, grum, borrellians, ogres and orcs. To a lesser degree, it can also affect elves, sayune, sea gypsies and phellysians, though this is uncommon. It does not appear to have any effect on avarians, baenites or saurians.
Gut rot is named so because the virus causes sores in the lining of the stomach. The main symptoms of gutrot are sharp stomach pains, abdominal soreness, loss of appetite, vomiting, fatigue and muscle weakness. The illness typically lasts 3-7 days. Once a person has been infected, they are immune to that particular strain. However, this is a seasonal virus which mutates each year so it is possible to be re-infected every year.
This is a mild illness and little more than a yearly annoyance. It is quite common, especially among the poor, the underfed and the elderly. Those are all well-fed, young and healthy generally fare much better.
Consumption of alcohol aggravates the disease and slows the healing of the gut sores.
Various healing spells are effective at curing gutrot. There are dozens of folk remedies with varying levels of success. Some simply involve eating specific herbs or berries. Some of the more fanciful cures involve drinking the water of a virtuous maiden’s bath or eating hot ash from a funeral pyre.
This website was last updated February 29, 2024. Copyright 1990-2024 David M. Roomes.