STIs

Wizarding sexually transmitted diseases and infections are similar to many muggle ones, although they feature different (sometimes bizarre) twists in their symptoms. There three or four common STIs, each with its own special blend of disgusting manifestations and cures!

Blast-Ended Crabs

A magical bug similar to that of muggle crab louse. Came around due to a rather vague and dubious incident between a breeder of Blast-Ended Skrewts and one of his livestock creatures.

Blast-Ended Crabs are initially dormant once transmitted, for as long as one to three weeks before symptoms manifest. This makes them very susceptible to being spread when a person has not yet diagnosed it and continues to practice unsafe sex. The blast-ended crabs, when developed, will cause intense itching and pricks of sudden burning sensations wherever there is traces of pubic or coarse hair.

Treatment involves the application of a topical ointment to the affected area, and can take up to one week for the crabs to entirely disappear. The burn marks left behind will leave light scarring that may fade in time, depending on the individual. It is advised that sufferers practice good body hygiene and trim their pubic hair, once diagnosed!

Morbus Gallicus

A fairly serious STI and magical bug similar to muggle Syphilis, very easily transmitted in early stages. There are three stages in Morbus Gallicus.

Its Primary Stage involves painless genital and mouth sores that look like other things such as ingrown hair, and feverish dreams (occasionally sporadic hallucinations on waking up). These disappear after a few months even if untreated

Its Secondary stage may include a non-itchy purple and green rash on mouth and genitals, often faint. Other symptoms include swollen lymph glands, fatigue, and patchy hair loss. Much like the primary stage, these will also disappear even if untreated. The final stage of Morbus Gallicus can happen over ten to thirty years after transmitted. All previous symptoms will return, in addition to: paralysis, organ damage, dementia as well as blindness.

Treatment can happen at any time from early stages (1 year or less) to the final state. It necessitates two potions being consumed in tandem as there is no singular concoction cure. Damage cannot be undone by this treatment, nor does it prevent catching Morbus Gallicus in the future.

Leprechaun's Luck

An STI that is misleadingly referred to as being of Irish origin. There is no pot of gold at the end of this rainbow!

Leprechaun's luck features the obvious symptom of turning one's hair ginger, typically one to two weeks after being transmitted. Other manifestations include an aggressive multi-coloured rash surrounding the genital area, nausea (in the evenings) and a propensity to wear green coloured clothing. If untreated, symptoms will disappear within two months.

Treatment for Leprechaun's Luck is a potion that can be bought over the counter or brewed at home.

Emittitas

A magical bug that favour sexual fluids. Symptoms can show up one to four days after transmission or as late as several months later. It can be spread to unborn child if transmitted during pregnancy

They include genital discharge (lemon yellow or puke green), anal pain with no clear cause, and pain whilst passing urine. Swelling and a thick, clear discharge in the eyes will also occur. If untreated, a person risks infertility, ectopic pregnancy (pregnany outside the uterus/in the fallopian tubes), and pain in the joints and tendons that may paralyse. It is possible to pass this bug on to one's baby during childbirth, causing irreversible blindness. Damage from Emittitas is long term and may not be reversible.

Treatment, which wiill not undo damage, is fairly intensive and involves ingestion of three potions over the course of three weeks. There is no current evidence that complementary 'homebrew' therapies will cure this bug.

Blistercreep

An STI which features symptoms that can be mistaken for other conditions. It is famously characterised by the symptoms hat slowly 'creep' over the body.

Blistercreep's most obvious characteristics are the blisters that form on genitalia and around the mouth - these break to leave painful sores, can repeat to a less serious extent, and will become less severe over time. Fluid from sores can spread infection to other parts of the body if touched, or to others. Sufferers will also experience smelly malodorous discharge and a burning sensation whilst passing urine.

There is no known cure although good personal hygiene reduces risk of infection spreading to other parts of the body. BBlisters that burst become shiny and harden into scale-like skin while healing, although these scales can be prevented with the right ointments when the sore is open. Current medicines reduce occurrence of blisters and risk of infection.

Siopilus

An STI considered to be deceptive and stealthy, difficult to detect without using an over-the-counter urine test. Symptoms may take weeks to manifest after being transmitted.

Those who catch Siopilus will suffer from normal to brown or yellow genital discharge, a burning sensation whilst urinating, blood in the urine, and abdominal pain that may be mistaken for muscular cramps. Other symptoms include pelvic pain (sometimes mistaken for onset arthritis) and a need to urinate more frequently. Both men and women experience excessive discharge. This STI will damage one's sex organs permanently and is especially known for affecting women - it can cause infertility as well as premature birth during pregnancy, though rarely a miscarriage.

It is better to play it safe rather than sorry by buying the urine test if suspected, as Siopilus can easily be cured with one remedy once diagnosed.

Roman Sore

See Roman Sore article.