Jha-sig

Jha-sig (literally "organ rot") is the word for an inherited genetic disease most prevalent among the , but can appear regardless of subspecies (excluding Noa'shoan). It manifests in roughly 3% of the total Kig-Yar population (and in 10% of Ibie'shan Kig-Yar), typically in early- to mid-adulthood. In most cases, the disease leads to the decay of the flesh of the uru-jha, an organ roughly equivalent to the human gall-bladder. If left untreated, the organ will gradually leak bile, damaging other organs, particularly the stomach. One of the most commons symptoms of jha-sig are intense stomach cramps, and as such the disease is commonly (and erroneously) attributed to a stomach affliction. 
Jha-sig holds a unique place in Kig-Yar culture and is the subject of numerous myths and folk treatments. Over time, it also became a potent political metaphor that came to be used even by some and .
==Symptoms and Causes==
The cause of jha-sig is not well understood, but has been determined to be a genetic disease, likely transmitted from the male line, though the disease itself can manifest in both males and females. Folk tales and myths frequently attribute the disease to poor diet, particularly to the consumption of snakes, but there is no evidence to suggest any direct correlation between any dietary choices and the development of jha-sig. However, some research indicates that certain foods may exasperate certain symptoms. 
The most common and well-known symptom is frequent and intense stomach cramps, caused by the leakage of bile outside of the uru-jha. Another frequent symptom is loose and blood-filled stool. Upon the first appearance of symptoms, an individual afflicted with jha-sig generally has 3-6 weeks to seek treatment before the disease becomes fatal. 
==Treatment==
The most common, but most risky, treatment is a direct surgical removal and replacement of the uru-jha. There are numerous possible complications that can result from such a procedure, first and foremost being the likely rejection of the replacement uru-jha. Most replacement organs are vat-grown and kept in stock by doctors, however they may not always be organised by subspecies, especially on more rustic colonies. Should the replacement organ not match the patient's subspecies, death is almost guaranteed. There is also the matter of actually removing the uru-jha, a potentially dangerous procedure in and of itself. It must first be detached, then wrapped and secured in order to prevent the further leakage of bile. Most deaths occur through complications with this procedure, where leakage may continue and damage other parts of the body. 
Another possible treatment is to attempt to briefly remove the uru-jha, wrap it and secure it, and then place it back into the body. This procedure is particularly difficult, as reattaching it inside the body is not an easy process, and the wrapping may fail and contiune to leak during the process, or afterwards. Nonetheless, there are a small number of medical practitioners who prefer this method, and have become very skilled at performing it as a result.
Over the years, there have been a number of herbal remedies and medications developed in attempts to treat jha-sig without surgery, with only rare successes. Some Noa'shan Kig-Yar have been rumoured to be able to heal jha-sig without medication or surgery, but such a procedure has yet to be confirmed. 
==As Political Metaphor==
Jha-sig has long been used as a political metaphor among Kig-Yar, typically to describe aging, corrupt institutions. This use has continuously reappeared throughout Kig-Yar history, typically used by reformers, pirates, and others. During and after the , it was adopted by some Sangheili and Jiralhanae to critique the and saw particular use in the rhetoric of the and other anti-Covenant rebels, such as Revut'jha-sig.