I want to blame the illness in Stay By My Side on the supernatural aspect but now that I think about it, it’s not that far out from other BL “colds”. I think a new diagnosis is needed here because the symptoms, causes, treatments, etc. don’t match up.
Symptoms
Common cold:
-nasal congestion and/or drainage
-coughing
-sneezing
-sore throat
Acute BLitis:
-fever
-profuse sweating
-nightmares
-transient loss of consciousness
-sudden loss of mobility
Causes
Common cold:
-exposure to a cold virus
Acute BLitis:
-exposure to rain droplets
-bottoming
-stress
-your sister accidentally burned the corner of your ghost protection talisman
Treatment
Common cold:
-rest
-lots of fluids
-may use medications to manage symptoms for patient comfort
Acute BLitis:
-complete bed rest is necessary until full recovery
-emergency sponge bath is the gold standard for treatment
-rest (more medically beneficial if cuddling cantankerous romantic interest/ if the patient is the cantankerous love interest)
-gay action (any little bit can help)
Transmission
Common cold:
-virus can spread easily through close contact, coughing, or sneezing
Acute BLitis:
-it’s noncommunicable, baby, no worries
Prognosis
Common cold:
-slow recovery over 7-10 days
Acute BLitis:
-typically resolves within 1-24 hours
-can resolve instantly with prompt treatment