Red ache

The red ache was a disease that caused the skin to become inflamed and the body to become weakened.

Acquisition
The disease could be acquired after sustaining an injury from an infected creature or following exposure to infected blood. It could potentially also be contracted from injuries received from rusty metal.

Known carriers included jungle landwyrms, plague ants, undead flies, and giant leeches. It could also be inflicted via the contagion, contagious touch, epidemic, and plague cloud spells.

Effects
The red ache was a corruption of the blood that caused the infected's skin to become swollen, red, and hot. It subsequently led to a steady loss of physical strength, possibly leading to death if not treated.

Curing
The red ache was treatable and ultimately curable, especially with the help of a talented healer.

Prolonged exposure to the red ache could eventually allow an individual to develop an immunity to it.

History
The Brotherhood of the Scarlet Scourge, a monastic order dedicated to the orc god of disease, Yurtus, was known to weaponize the red ache against its enemies.

The disease was also present on the planet of Eberron, where it was sometimes carried by needletooth dinosaurs.