This is odd to explain, so in simplest terms, rather than specific "horror" diseases from film & TV, I'm looking at more generic "fantasy" diseases from folklore and culture.
Most specifically, I was intrigued by diseases which seem to come from several sources, as opposed to just one - as well as some realworld psychology, history and biology which might explain what inspired these ideas in the first place (also, I couldn't think of a way to organize this, so I've gone for alphabetical). Again, I fear I'm not explaining this well, so rather than continue to try to tell you what I'm talking about, let's just get right into it.
Brain Fever
Symptoms/Treatment: Brain fever is a physiological/psychological condition which affects the brain, causing severe overheating of the brain matter, resulting in death if a person cannot allow their brain time to cool. This is caused when someone experiences extreme, emotional upset, When a person becomes too upset - often caused by fear, grief, pain, panic or nightmares.
Common symptoms include exacerbated feelings, manic and frantic behaviour, loss of coherent speech, fever and/or sweating. As well, some patients claim that the heat of brain fever causes the brain matter to lose cohesion, and as a result causes a sensation of their brain "melting" and dripping from the ears or nose (although this is most likely a delusion brought on by the fever itself, and their own sweating).
If left untreated, this disease can result in long-term brain damage, or even the death of the afflicted patient. Known treatments are bedrest, cool showers or baths and other means of lowering body temperature, and creating distance (physical or mental) between the afflicted patient and any stimuli which triggered their initial fever.
Distribution/Source: Victorian literature contains several references to the affliction, often as a psychological condition brought on by stress or grief. However, the term is rather vague, and it appears to have been used in non-fiction works to refer to other neurological conditions such as cerebritis, meningitis, viral encephalitis or scarlet fever.
(Potential) Origins: The disease which has the most similar symptoms appears to be Encephalitis, a swelling and inflammation of the brain often caused by viral infection or brain trauma. Common symptoms include headache, fever, seizure & vomiting; or in prolonged cases, delirium, hallucination, loss of coherent speech, loss of hearing, memory loss & seizure. I believe that this is most likely the cause for belief that brain fever can be fatal, However, the affliction which most likely inspired this cultural disease would be the broad psychological concept of the Nervous Breakdown. - as this is a broad term, I would specify, it appears to specifically relate to persons with a predisposition for neuroticism suffering from a panic attack or manic episode, due to environmental triggers. In Victorian times, mental health was not well understood, and the concept of someone losing mental stability because of emotion, environmental triggers or trauma likely didn't make a great deal of sense - so explaining it in simpler terms "when brain thinks too much, brain gets hot" sounds a lot like common sense (which is one of the reasons why it's wrong), and whilst it sounds silly now, I don't blame people at the time for trying to understand why people might become overwhelmed due to emotion, and trying to help them, even though their efforts were misguided.
Cooties
Symptoms/Treatment: Cooties refers to a species of bacterium which infects the patient's skin and internal organs, and in some extreme cases can be prevalent on the person's clothing or belongings. There are at least two naturally occuring forms forms of the disease, the most common is known as pigelus, tjejbaciller, tyttöbakteeri, or "girl germs" is epidemic among females, especially children. There is a rarer strain, known as drengelus, killbaciller, poikabakteeri or "boy germs" which exclusively grows on the skin of male children, especially prior to puberty. There is a third form which appears to randomly affect children of any gender or sexual orientation, which appears to be comorbid with a child's own natural strain of this bacterium.
Whilst afflicted with ones own native strain of this bacteria, children can live normal lives, although girls infected with girl germs have been reported as having poor muscle weakness, hand-eye co-ordination and a fragile emotional state, causing them to "throw like a girl" and "cry like a sissy"; whereas boys infected with boy germs have been known to show heightened levels of aggression and mild learning disabilities, causing them to "act mean" and "be stupid". Although information is limited on the third strain, it has been known to cause unusual behaviour, shyness and may be comorbid with certain physical or learning disabilities, causing them to "act like a weirdo" or "be the freaky kid".
If a child touches another infected child, and their form of cooties interacts with their own, this condition is believed to cause unusual reactions resulting in possible disability, homosexuality or other forms of gender-nonconformity.
The only known treatment is through vaccination, often in the form of a cooties shot - this is either provided by re-administration of the child's own native bacteria species from someone of their own gender or social group (often administered with a specific rhyme) or in some countries it is administered with a retractible ball-point pen. This completely eradicates the foreign bacteria from the child's system.
Distribution/Source: Yeah, I had a bit of fun writing this one - this is simply a feature of child playground mythology. It was first encountered in the 1950s, after the polio epidemic, and although I haven't been to school in a while, I believe that it is still prevalent to this day, although modern and progressive lessons regarding prejudice and its ills has, helpfully, reduced this disease's spread.
(Potential) Origins: Although it became popular during the Polio epidemic, the disease has no symptoms that in any way resemble polio (except for the potential vaccination). I feel the disease most resembles Parasitosis, any infection spread via parasite, although some research claims that soldiers used to refer to "lice" as cooties, but I think that's a case of lice being named for cooties rather than vice versa. Whilst "it's like parasites" is even more vague than "nervous breakdown", it's more apt in this case because in reality, Cooties doesn't seem to have any symptoms. For that reason, the actual cause of Cooties is simple - Prejudice, even the "symptoms" I've listed are just juvenile sexism, ableism and homophobia. Cooties a simple game of "us vs. them" exclusivity, because in a mixed-gender school, the most obvious form of difference between students is sexual dimorphism, especially since most schools have gender-specific uniforms. In my experience, the homophobia isn't as prevalent now as it was when I was in primary school, but it nonetheless takes times for kids to better develop their empathy to a point where they don't think "difference" is the same thing as "sickness" or "wrongness".
Hanahaki Disease
Symptoms/Treatment: Hanahaki disease is a parasitic infection of the lungs and throat by flowering plants. These plants grow within the lungs, or in some rare and dangerous cases the heart, occasionally spreading through the stomach and mouth, which causes difficulty breathing, chest pains and the coughing up or regurgitation of (often bloodied) petals, or even whole flowers, from the mouth. This is caused by the patient feeling unrequited same-gender love for another person who is unaware of their affection.
Symptoms often worsen over time, but can be exacerbated due to proximity with the patient's subject of desire, or extenuating circumstances such as the subject of desire's relationship status, and the patient's own shame for their feelings. The condition can last for months or even years, and if left untreated often results in death by blood loss or asphyxiation.
There are only two known treatments. The first is the reciprocation of the patient's affection from their beloved subject. The other is surgery to remove the plant, which will also remove the patient's love for their subject of desire. A third potential treatment would be a natural loss or lessening of affection, but as this disease tends to be produced from very strong feelings, I have yet to see any proof that this treatment is effective.
Distribution/Source: The original source of this disease was fanfiction, particularly Japanese Yaoi fandom, slash fiction as well as Yuri fandom - often of anime & manga. This is the reason for the name, as hana (花) means "flower" and hakimasu (吐きます) means "vomiting". Over time, this has spread to the West, with several examples in both translated Japanese media, as well as original, English-language fanfiction.
(Potential) Origins: I can see only two potential origins for this concept. The first is Aspergillosis, which is a fungal lung infection, where a species of Aspergillus fungus causes chest pain and difficulty breathing, as well as the coughing up of blood. Although fungus is not a flowering plant, as it's technically not a plant at all, this is a bit of a stretch, but there is a clear correlation in symptoms. The second cause is simply Lovesickness. In the real world, love (especially manic or unrequited love) can develop strong and even painful feelings, with symptoms including chest and heart pain, difficulty breathing, dizziness and vomiting, so it makes perfect sense that someone would want to represent that in the form of a disease. I'd have to therefore assume that the reason why this seems to affect homosexual lovers exclusively is either because of the social stigma, forcing someone to keep their feelings hidden. Or, it may simply be a way to kill off gay characters in a painful, but romantic way.
Morgellons Disease
Symptoms/Treatment: Morgellons is a skin condition that results in fibrous or "hairy" growths under the skin which causes redness, severe itching and discomfort, and in some cases lesions as these fibres grow out and protrude from the skin.
There is no known treatment, as there is little research regarding this disease, and what research has been done has thus far been counterproductive in finding proof of this disease, its cause or its cures. Thankfully, this disease is not fatal, and although quality of life suffers due to the constant itching, with palliative care patients can live a long and fulfilling life.
Distribution/Source: The original source of this disease was one woman, Mary Leitao, who in 2002 insisted that her (at the time) two-year -old son was suffering from an undiagnosed and unheard-of disease. After aving eher findings repeatedly disputed by doctors and disproven by researchers, Ms Leitao created the Morgellons Research Foundation to raise money for research, as well as to raise awareness of this disease.
(Potential) Origins: As this is a very recent "disease", and has been queried by several doctors and researchers, this is the most well-documented disease on this list. So, this isn't mere speculation, actual doctors have provided two potential explanations for this disease, the most prevalent one being Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another; more commonly known as Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy, this is a psychological disorder whereby sufferer's willingly prescribe an illness to someone in their care, to fulfill some psychological need for attention, acclaim or control. However, Leitao's son isn't the only sufferer, apparently several people claim to have this disease, and doctors suggest this may be caused by Delusional Parasitosis, or the chronic delusion that bugs are crawling over, or under, a patient's skin causing itching and can bleed from excessive scratching. But wait, if all these people are delusional, how do we explain the hairs or fibres under their skin? well, according to tests done on these fibres, the fibres are cellulose, and are consistent with clothing lint, which gets into the wounds after the skin is broken.
Spontaneous Human Combustion
Symptoms/Treatment: Spontaneous Human Combustion is when a person, without external heat sources, flames or sparks, suddenly ignites and burns with such an intense flame and heat that their body is incinerated, leaving little more than soot, ashes and charred fragments of bone - although in several cases, remote parts of their body such as hands and feet are left with smoking stumps but are otherwise unaffected. The flame burns hot and fast, such that the victim doesn't have the opportunity to react, and the area around them is often only minimally damaged, as the flame burns out before their surrounds can catch fire. This is a relatively rare condition, as there have only been 200 cases on record. Although the exact cause is not known,some have suggested that static electricity or the heat of gut bacteria may be involved in the initial spark; as well, the consumption of alcohol has been linked to several cases, which alongside body fat and methane may be involved in providing the fuel of these blazes.
Distribution/Source: This is the subject of urban legends, and due to hearsay has also been portrayed in fiction (e.g. Redburn by Herman Melville, Dead Souls by Nikolay Gogol & Bleak House by Charles Dickens). But, there have been several cases of people dying from intense fires without any known source of ignition. So, who's to say that Spontaneous Human Combustion doesn't exist?
(Potential) Origins: Yeah, I'm gonna say that this is total nonsense. Yes, humans are surprisingly flammable, Not only are there only do some flammable gasses like methane and hydrogen exist in our digestive tract, but animal fat burns well, which is why it was once used in making of candles in the form of tallow. People used to theorize that alcohol caused a chemical reaction, because alcohol was involved in so many cases - but do you know what else alcohol causes? That's right, drunkenness. It's my belief that Alcoholism is the main cause of this affliction. Not only because alcohol itself is flammable (spill a little on your shirt, and it will ignite easier), but in excess it makes you sluggish, unresponsive and lower one's inhibitions to do dangerous things, like, sleep close to a fireplace -and yes, burning fireplaces, lit cigarettes and even stove-tops have all been involved in purported cases of "spontaneous" human combustion. But, even when they don't, it's just not believable that the human body could just burst into flame apropos of nothing, because,humans don't ignite. We're almost 70% water, and fire requires energy - in the form of heat or a spark - to alight, and the human body cannot accidentally create that much excess energy in a single point. Which leads me, sadly, to my second potential cause of this - instead of accidental, there may be some cases where this was on purpose. I'm talking about suicide, in the form of Self-Immolation. Some people when they take their lives want to act out and "send a message" or be remembered. One way they choose to do that is to die in a way that's "enigmatic", without an obvious cause, in the hopes that it might be remembered, but it's a whole lot of pain and suffering for nothing - even the Wikipedia page talks about religious rights and martyrdom, but that's giving this more respect and reverence than it deserves. To me, it's just sad that anyone would think that the most memorable part of their life would be the end of it.
Most specifically, I was intrigued by diseases which seem to come from several sources, as opposed to just one - as well as some realworld psychology, history and biology which might explain what inspired these ideas in the first place (also, I couldn't think of a way to organize this, so I've gone for alphabetical). Again, I fear I'm not explaining this well, so rather than continue to try to tell you what I'm talking about, let's just get right into it.
LEGENDARY SICKNESS, AND WHERE IT (PROBABLY) COMES FROM
Brain Fever
Symptoms/Treatment: Brain fever is a physiological/psychological condition which affects the brain, causing severe overheating of the brain matter, resulting in death if a person cannot allow their brain time to cool. This is caused when someone experiences extreme, emotional upset, When a person becomes too upset - often caused by fear, grief, pain, panic or nightmares.
Common symptoms include exacerbated feelings, manic and frantic behaviour, loss of coherent speech, fever and/or sweating. As well, some patients claim that the heat of brain fever causes the brain matter to lose cohesion, and as a result causes a sensation of their brain "melting" and dripping from the ears or nose (although this is most likely a delusion brought on by the fever itself, and their own sweating).
If left untreated, this disease can result in long-term brain damage, or even the death of the afflicted patient. Known treatments are bedrest, cool showers or baths and other means of lowering body temperature, and creating distance (physical or mental) between the afflicted patient and any stimuli which triggered their initial fever.
Distribution/Source: Victorian literature contains several references to the affliction, often as a psychological condition brought on by stress or grief. However, the term is rather vague, and it appears to have been used in non-fiction works to refer to other neurological conditions such as cerebritis, meningitis, viral encephalitis or scarlet fever.
(Potential) Origins: The disease which has the most similar symptoms appears to be Encephalitis, a swelling and inflammation of the brain often caused by viral infection or brain trauma. Common symptoms include headache, fever, seizure & vomiting; or in prolonged cases, delirium, hallucination, loss of coherent speech, loss of hearing, memory loss & seizure. I believe that this is most likely the cause for belief that brain fever can be fatal, However, the affliction which most likely inspired this cultural disease would be the broad psychological concept of the Nervous Breakdown. - as this is a broad term, I would specify, it appears to specifically relate to persons with a predisposition for neuroticism suffering from a panic attack or manic episode, due to environmental triggers. In Victorian times, mental health was not well understood, and the concept of someone losing mental stability because of emotion, environmental triggers or trauma likely didn't make a great deal of sense - so explaining it in simpler terms "when brain thinks too much, brain gets hot" sounds a lot like common sense (which is one of the reasons why it's wrong), and whilst it sounds silly now, I don't blame people at the time for trying to understand why people might become overwhelmed due to emotion, and trying to help them, even though their efforts were misguided.
Cooties
Symptoms/Treatment: Cooties refers to a species of bacterium which infects the patient's skin and internal organs, and in some extreme cases can be prevalent on the person's clothing or belongings. There are at least two naturally occuring forms forms of the disease, the most common is known as pigelus, tjejbaciller, tyttöbakteeri, or "girl germs" is epidemic among females, especially children. There is a rarer strain, known as drengelus, killbaciller, poikabakteeri or "boy germs" which exclusively grows on the skin of male children, especially prior to puberty. There is a third form which appears to randomly affect children of any gender or sexual orientation, which appears to be comorbid with a child's own natural strain of this bacterium.
Whilst afflicted with ones own native strain of this bacteria, children can live normal lives, although girls infected with girl germs have been reported as having poor muscle weakness, hand-eye co-ordination and a fragile emotional state, causing them to "throw like a girl" and "cry like a sissy"; whereas boys infected with boy germs have been known to show heightened levels of aggression and mild learning disabilities, causing them to "act mean" and "be stupid". Although information is limited on the third strain, it has been known to cause unusual behaviour, shyness and may be comorbid with certain physical or learning disabilities, causing them to "act like a weirdo" or "be the freaky kid".
If a child touches another infected child, and their form of cooties interacts with their own, this condition is believed to cause unusual reactions resulting in possible disability, homosexuality or other forms of gender-nonconformity.
The only known treatment is through vaccination, often in the form of a cooties shot - this is either provided by re-administration of the child's own native bacteria species from someone of their own gender or social group (often administered with a specific rhyme) or in some countries it is administered with a retractible ball-point pen. This completely eradicates the foreign bacteria from the child's system.
Distribution/Source: Yeah, I had a bit of fun writing this one - this is simply a feature of child playground mythology. It was first encountered in the 1950s, after the polio epidemic, and although I haven't been to school in a while, I believe that it is still prevalent to this day, although modern and progressive lessons regarding prejudice and its ills has, helpfully, reduced this disease's spread.
(Potential) Origins: Although it became popular during the Polio epidemic, the disease has no symptoms that in any way resemble polio (except for the potential vaccination). I feel the disease most resembles Parasitosis, any infection spread via parasite, although some research claims that soldiers used to refer to "lice" as cooties, but I think that's a case of lice being named for cooties rather than vice versa. Whilst "it's like parasites" is even more vague than "nervous breakdown", it's more apt in this case because in reality, Cooties doesn't seem to have any symptoms. For that reason, the actual cause of Cooties is simple - Prejudice, even the "symptoms" I've listed are just juvenile sexism, ableism and homophobia. Cooties a simple game of "us vs. them" exclusivity, because in a mixed-gender school, the most obvious form of difference between students is sexual dimorphism, especially since most schools have gender-specific uniforms. In my experience, the homophobia isn't as prevalent now as it was when I was in primary school, but it nonetheless takes times for kids to better develop their empathy to a point where they don't think "difference" is the same thing as "sickness" or "wrongness".
Hanahaki Disease
Symptoms/Treatment: Hanahaki disease is a parasitic infection of the lungs and throat by flowering plants. These plants grow within the lungs, or in some rare and dangerous cases the heart, occasionally spreading through the stomach and mouth, which causes difficulty breathing, chest pains and the coughing up or regurgitation of (often bloodied) petals, or even whole flowers, from the mouth. This is caused by the patient feeling unrequited same-gender love for another person who is unaware of their affection.
Symptoms often worsen over time, but can be exacerbated due to proximity with the patient's subject of desire, or extenuating circumstances such as the subject of desire's relationship status, and the patient's own shame for their feelings. The condition can last for months or even years, and if left untreated often results in death by blood loss or asphyxiation.
There are only two known treatments. The first is the reciprocation of the patient's affection from their beloved subject. The other is surgery to remove the plant, which will also remove the patient's love for their subject of desire. A third potential treatment would be a natural loss or lessening of affection, but as this disease tends to be produced from very strong feelings, I have yet to see any proof that this treatment is effective.
Distribution/Source: The original source of this disease was fanfiction, particularly Japanese Yaoi fandom, slash fiction as well as Yuri fandom - often of anime & manga. This is the reason for the name, as hana (花) means "flower" and hakimasu (吐きます) means "vomiting". Over time, this has spread to the West, with several examples in both translated Japanese media, as well as original, English-language fanfiction.
(Potential) Origins: I can see only two potential origins for this concept. The first is Aspergillosis, which is a fungal lung infection, where a species of Aspergillus fungus causes chest pain and difficulty breathing, as well as the coughing up of blood. Although fungus is not a flowering plant, as it's technically not a plant at all, this is a bit of a stretch, but there is a clear correlation in symptoms. The second cause is simply Lovesickness. In the real world, love (especially manic or unrequited love) can develop strong and even painful feelings, with symptoms including chest and heart pain, difficulty breathing, dizziness and vomiting, so it makes perfect sense that someone would want to represent that in the form of a disease. I'd have to therefore assume that the reason why this seems to affect homosexual lovers exclusively is either because of the social stigma, forcing someone to keep their feelings hidden. Or, it may simply be a way to kill off gay characters in a painful, but romantic way.
Morgellons Disease
Symptoms/Treatment: Morgellons is a skin condition that results in fibrous or "hairy" growths under the skin which causes redness, severe itching and discomfort, and in some cases lesions as these fibres grow out and protrude from the skin.
There is no known treatment, as there is little research regarding this disease, and what research has been done has thus far been counterproductive in finding proof of this disease, its cause or its cures. Thankfully, this disease is not fatal, and although quality of life suffers due to the constant itching, with palliative care patients can live a long and fulfilling life.
Distribution/Source: The original source of this disease was one woman, Mary Leitao, who in 2002 insisted that her (at the time) two-year -old son was suffering from an undiagnosed and unheard-of disease. After aving eher findings repeatedly disputed by doctors and disproven by researchers, Ms Leitao created the Morgellons Research Foundation to raise money for research, as well as to raise awareness of this disease.
(Potential) Origins: As this is a very recent "disease", and has been queried by several doctors and researchers, this is the most well-documented disease on this list. So, this isn't mere speculation, actual doctors have provided two potential explanations for this disease, the most prevalent one being Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another; more commonly known as Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy, this is a psychological disorder whereby sufferer's willingly prescribe an illness to someone in their care, to fulfill some psychological need for attention, acclaim or control. However, Leitao's son isn't the only sufferer, apparently several people claim to have this disease, and doctors suggest this may be caused by Delusional Parasitosis, or the chronic delusion that bugs are crawling over, or under, a patient's skin causing itching and can bleed from excessive scratching. But wait, if all these people are delusional, how do we explain the hairs or fibres under their skin? well, according to tests done on these fibres, the fibres are cellulose, and are consistent with clothing lint, which gets into the wounds after the skin is broken.
Spontaneous Human Combustion
Symptoms/Treatment: Spontaneous Human Combustion is when a person, without external heat sources, flames or sparks, suddenly ignites and burns with such an intense flame and heat that their body is incinerated, leaving little more than soot, ashes and charred fragments of bone - although in several cases, remote parts of their body such as hands and feet are left with smoking stumps but are otherwise unaffected. The flame burns hot and fast, such that the victim doesn't have the opportunity to react, and the area around them is often only minimally damaged, as the flame burns out before their surrounds can catch fire. This is a relatively rare condition, as there have only been 200 cases on record. Although the exact cause is not known,some have suggested that static electricity or the heat of gut bacteria may be involved in the initial spark; as well, the consumption of alcohol has been linked to several cases, which alongside body fat and methane may be involved in providing the fuel of these blazes.
Distribution/Source: This is the subject of urban legends, and due to hearsay has also been portrayed in fiction (e.g. Redburn by Herman Melville, Dead Souls by Nikolay Gogol & Bleak House by Charles Dickens). But, there have been several cases of people dying from intense fires without any known source of ignition. So, who's to say that Spontaneous Human Combustion doesn't exist?
(Potential) Origins: Yeah, I'm gonna say that this is total nonsense. Yes, humans are surprisingly flammable, Not only are there only do some flammable gasses like methane and hydrogen exist in our digestive tract, but animal fat burns well, which is why it was once used in making of candles in the form of tallow. People used to theorize that alcohol caused a chemical reaction, because alcohol was involved in so many cases - but do you know what else alcohol causes? That's right, drunkenness. It's my belief that Alcoholism is the main cause of this affliction. Not only because alcohol itself is flammable (spill a little on your shirt, and it will ignite easier), but in excess it makes you sluggish, unresponsive and lower one's inhibitions to do dangerous things, like, sleep close to a fireplace -and yes, burning fireplaces, lit cigarettes and even stove-tops have all been involved in purported cases of "spontaneous" human combustion. But, even when they don't, it's just not believable that the human body could just burst into flame apropos of nothing, because,humans don't ignite. We're almost 70% water, and fire requires energy - in the form of heat or a spark - to alight, and the human body cannot accidentally create that much excess energy in a single point. Which leads me, sadly, to my second potential cause of this - instead of accidental, there may be some cases where this was on purpose. I'm talking about suicide, in the form of Self-Immolation. Some people when they take their lives want to act out and "send a message" or be remembered. One way they choose to do that is to die in a way that's "enigmatic", without an obvious cause, in the hopes that it might be remembered, but it's a whole lot of pain and suffering for nothing - even the Wikipedia page talks about religious rights and martyrdom, but that's giving this more respect and reverence than it deserves. To me, it's just sad that anyone would think that the most memorable part of their life would be the end of it.
[No one, least of all me, was expecting me to talk about suicide, so if you (or a loved one) is feeling suicidal, or depressed, know that there's nothing shameful about asking for help, and help is available, you can speak to someone who can help you, today.]
Anyway, that's my list for now; but, y'know... there's a another kind of unreal sickness out there. I've talked about fake illness that disturbs, I've talked about false ailments that intrigue... but next up, I want to talk about some fictional afflictions that cause actual, physical harm.
I'm the Absurd Word Nerd, and until next time, I'm going to be doing more research on human prejudice, and the bad science that can come from it...
I'm the Absurd Word Nerd, and until next time, I'm going to be doing more research on human prejudice, and the bad science that can come from it...
