See if you can match the Super Hero with the infection!

There is an epidemic of pandemic proportions in the making at the World Expo of Live Action and Unique Grotesque Heroes (WE LAUGH). This crisis of comic characters is by no means comical. One by one the heroes have been taken ill by unknown assailants.

Batman and Robin were the first to arrive via the Bat Plane. Within hours they developed red rashes under their cowls and fevers. Their initial presentation was small red bumps that resemble pimples, spider bites, or boils that was accompanied by fever and rashes. Today, they have become larger, more painful, and are opening into deep, pus-filled boils.

Wonder Woman and Super Girl flew in together and collapsed from vertigo. They both have a sensation of whirling and loss of balance, aggravated by looking down from a great height. Their hotel room spins about them and they are only comfortable in a supine position. Initial diagnosis is they are suffering from an unknown bacterial infection causing inflammation of the inner ear.

The Hulk is curled up in a fetal ball and has not left his hotel room. His muscles are flaccid and too weak to hold him up. Our agent on scene sent in this update. This was the last transmission before she became ill herself. Our researchers cannot decipher the content. We hope you will be able to discern some clues from the content.

“Microbial toxins are toxins produced by microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi. Microbial toxins are important virulence determinants responsible for microbial pathogenicity and/or evasion of the host immune response. Some bacterial toxins, such as Botulinum neurotoxins, are the most potent natural toxins known. However, microbial toxins also have important uses in medical science and research. Potential applications of toxin research include combating microbial virulence, the development of novel anti-cancer drugs and other medicines, and the use of toxins as tools in neurobiology and cellular biology. Neuroexocytosis apparatus, causes a persistent but reversible inhibition of neurotransmitter release resulting in flaccid muscle paralysis.”

Spiderman is all tangled up alternating dry heaves and wet vomit. He is presenting with a headache, neck stiffness, fever, and confusion. He complains of photophobia and phonophobia. In addition he has episodes of altered states of consciousness and a rash has also developed.

Superman’s emotions are all in a fluster. At one moment he is giggling, the next crying, the next angry then he sleeps. His symptoms include cough, sore throat, runny nose, blocked nose, phlegm, headache and fever, facial pressure and sneezing. Our in the field agent sent word that “Observational and experimentally induced infection studies show that upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) affect mood and cognition. Studies have tested the effects of naturally occurring URTI on cognition, mood and emotional processing. Up to 15% of acute pharyngitis cases may be caused by bacteria, commonly Group A streptococcus in Streptococcal pharyngitis or Strep Throat.”

The Fantastic Four have succumbed to profuse, smelly, green diarrhea and dehydration. Significant diarrhea ("new onset of > 3 partially formed or watery stools per 24 hour period"); colitis (abdominal pain); and generalized weakness have set in.

Search and Research Mission:

Preliminary research by our contact in the Quarantined Zone indicates all diseases are bacterial in nature. Super Nurse Student, you and you alone must enter the quarantined area and determine the diagnosis and treatment plan for each hero. This information will be sent to the CDC, Characters of Disease for Comic-heroes for review.

There is not much time. If our superheroes succumb to these bacteria, imagine what would happen to the general, mortal populace if these microbes escaped. We are watching our field agent very carefully.

Remember to wear protective gear when visiting the patients.

What do their symptoms suggest?

Batman and Robin:

Wonderwoman and Supergirl:

The Hulk:

Spiderman:

Fantastic Four: