Beneficial Disease: Difference between revisions

This trope is related to diseases that can be cured by either a medical treatment or the body's self-defense mechanism. The characters may elect to not cure or prolong the infection to gain the maximum benefit from the disease. For immunity/superpowers arising from disabilities of a more permanent nature, (disabilities caused by genetic mutations, accidents or general inborn traits), see [[Disability Immunity]]. For example, sickle-cell anemia that arises because of a genetic mutation resulting in lowered life expectancy, but also provides a degree of immunity against malaria, is [[Not an Example]] of this trope. It is an example of Disability Immunity, since sickle cell anemia is permanent. On the other hand, cowpox, which is a disease that provides immunity to a much deadlier disease called smallpox, is a good example of this trope.

 

 

Also related to [[One Curse Limit]].

 

== [[Advertising]] ==

* In a candy bar commercial, [[The Simpsons (animation)|Bart Simpson]] is diagnosed with Butterfingeritis. Homer grumbles, "Why does Bart always get the ''good'' diseases?"

 

* ''[[Baoh]]'' is aboht a man with a parasite which gives him super-powers but is still eventually fatal.

* Matou Kariya from ''[[Fate/Zero]]'' is infected with worms that will ultimately kill him, but infuse him with enough magical power to summon and control Beserker.

 

* No less than ''three'' of [[Empowered]]'s teammates got their powers from ''alien venereal diseases.''

* ''[[Blake and Mortimer]]''; a plot that hinges on {{spoiler|[[Children Are Innocent|young children spreading a disease to people in power by giving them flowers and a peck on the cheek]]}} is foiled when one is revealed to have sickle-cell anemia, preventing the disease from developping.

 

* There's the ''[[Harry Potter (novel)|Harry Potter]]'' fanfic "[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1399984/1/ Recnac Transfaerso]", where having cancer causes Harry to develop on-off superpowered magic.

 

* The science fiction novel ''The Skinner'' by Neal Asher is set on a [[Death World]] that has this gigantic leech whose bite carries a virus with interesting properties, rendering "victims" super strong and nearly immortal and indestructible. Almost all animals on-planet are infected by it, as are most humans who live there. The real downside is that the evolutionary "purpose" is so predators can have permanent prey, and even if you can't die, it doesn't mean you can't feel pain/suffer a [[Fate Worse Than Death]].

 

* This trope has been used multiple times on ''[[House (TV series)|House]]''.

* In ''[[Terra Nova]]'', a flu infection provides the main character immunity from another infection that wipes the person's memory

* ''[[Stargate Atlantis]]'' has a [[Downplayed Trope|downplayed]] example. Sheppard finds himself resistant to Lucius Lavin's mind-control pheromones, because he has a cold and can't smell anything.

* ''[[Look Around You]]'' has a disease called "Cobbles", which causes the skin to take on the appearance of stone until the victim looks like a pile of rocks, but also grants the ability to fly. The scientist who discovered a cure for the disease, a sufferer himself, opted not to use it because he liked being able to fly so much.

* One the abducted women in the ''[[Criminal Minds]]'' episode "The Uncanny Valley" was diabetic, which somehow allowed her to metabolize the paralytic drugs she was given at a faster than usual rate.

 

== [[Tabletop Games]] ==

* In ''[[Warhammer Fantasy Battle]]'', this is Nurgle's hat. Since he is a [[Plaguemaster]] god, his servants become ravaged with all sorts of plagues but the effects don't kill them. They look utterly disgusting but not a bit weaker for it; they are actually harder to kill because they don't need to worry about things like infected wounds. Also they [[Feel No Pain]], and the diseases they spread can still be lethal to non-believers.

 

* ''[[The Elder Scrolls]]'' has vampirism, in which the longer it goes untreated, the victim gains more vampiric characteristics.

** Also in ''The Elder Scrolls'', particularly ''[[Morrowind]]'', the Corpus disease grants the victims immunity to all other diseases and even prevents them from aging. Too bad it also comes with a big serving of [[Body Horror]] and a bad case of crazy, and is completely incurable unless you are the [[The Chosen One|Nerevarine]].

*** He technically wasn't even cured, he just had the bad sides removed.

** ''[[Skyrim]]'' adds Lycanthropy to the mix. You can turn instantly into a giant furry killing machine, you are entirely immune to all diseases (even vampirism) and the only downside is losing the ability to gain sleep buffs. Oh, and Hircine gains your soul when you die so that your afterlife will be an eternal hunt for game as part of his pack, though some people considers that yet another form of [[Cursed with Awesome]].

 

== [[Real Life]] ==

** Syphilis in turn can, but usually doesn't, turn out positive as in end state it alters your brain chemistry. It usually slowly kills you, but in some people it made them more passionate, generally better-mooded and enjoy emotions more (including of course sex, ironically enough).

* Intestinal parasites such as tapeworms have been shown to reduce vulnerability of the host to airborne allergens such as pollen.

[[Category:Power At a Price]]

[[Category:Reality Is Unrealistic]]