The Scratch
Symptoms
The first sign of having contracted the Scratch comes from a severe itch around the wounded area. This will turn into a severe allergic reaction within hours, causing puffiness of the face, neck, and hands, difficulty breathing, and excessive mucus production. The skin all over the body becomes unbearably itchy, and will begin to flake. Scales, hair, and feathers often become dull, and a noticeable increase in shedding or molting occurs. If left untreated, the Scratch can cause permanent bald patches from hair/feather loss.
Pain when urinating will also occur within days of contracting the disease, and intercourse is excruciating during this time, and is best to be avoided.
Cause
The Scratch is contracted from the saliva of an infected disturbling.
Treatment and Prevention
The best way to keep the Scratch away is to vaccinate all of your pet disturblings, and avoid approaching feral di, or di you're not familiar with.
The Scratch will fade on its own over a period of several months, but, fortunately, there is also a vaccination. Treatment is quite simple and has an 85% success rate in healthy adults. Children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems must be vaccinated within 24 hours for the drug to take effect.