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My rogue is a very promiscuous individual. The paladin in the party is attempting to cure him of his STDs through a nightly application of Lay on Hands.

Would the Lay on Hands feature cure pubic lice?

I have read the description of Lay on Hands, and RAW it cures diseases and poison; however, I am conflicted on whether you could consider pubic lice a disease.

V2Blast
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lobstafan26
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    Welcome to RPG.SE! Have a look at the [tour] and at the [help] if you need any guidance about posting Q&A here! Happy gaming! – Eddymage Jun 28 '23 at 07:29
  • Vaguely related because: how to handle infestations): – Nobody the Hobgoblin Jun 28 '23 at 10:11
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    I have to say, your party maintains a decent level of realism. – enkryptor Jun 28 '23 at 15:37
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    If Cure Disease doesn't work, try Repel Insects. I'm totally serious. – Shawn V. Wilson Jun 28 '23 at 19:47
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    It might, but I'm not sure that having healthy pubic lice is much better than having sick pubic lice :) – Jeremy Friesner Jun 29 '23 at 05:19
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    Would you consider evidence from prior editions? In 1E-3E, the cure disease ability always explicitly said it cured parasitic infections. Arguably there was an editing oversight that failed to include it later (i.e., by removing the referenced spell version). – Daniel R. Collins Jun 29 '23 at 05:26
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    I wonder whether the problem in answering this is whether we are getting hung up on the term "parasite". This suggests internal parasites inside the body which might suggest Lay on Hands might not work with external parasites. Hmmm... – Senmurv Jun 30 '23 at 09:52
  • I mean, isn't nightly laying on of hands sort of how this happened in the first place? – Jack Feb 07 '24 at 18:36

4 Answers4

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Many types of internal parasite, including the egg of the red slaad and the worm of the spawn of kyuss, are explicitly described as being killed by any effect that removes disease.

However, pubic lice are homebrew and we don't know if they follow the same rules as the parasites listed above. You'll have to ask your DM.

Dan B
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You know how in D&D, the "solar system" is surrounded by Crystal Spheres immersed in phlogiston?

It seems that what we consider naive medieval scientific "theory" is, in the D&D world, true. Before the invention of microscopes and the development of germ theory, people probably made no distinction between parasites and diseases. So in D&D, maybe there is no distinction.

Alternatively: Germs are just tiny bugs that live in you. If Cure Disease can get rid of them, why not lice as well?

Shawn V. Wilson
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  • Technically I gave two answers here. While I appreciate the upvotes, I wish I knew which one was getting the most responses! (Serves me right.) – Shawn V. Wilson Jul 03 '23 at 07:34
  • In 5E, Phlogiston doesn't appear to be a thing anymore (where previously you'd enter the Phlogiston, you now spelljam directly from Wildspace into the Astral). But your point remains accurate. – ShadowRanger Jul 04 '23 at 13:15
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Strictly reading, pubic lice are an infestation, not a disease.

In the Dungeon Master's Guide (pages 256-257) there is not any game term defining disease; there is a summary explanation and few examples that reflect everyday experiences in the real world.

From a real world point of view, an infestation of parasites could induce a disease, but the infestation itself is not a disease. Anyway, the terminology is not completely clear (see here1 for example), but strictly speaking such kind of parasites may induce diseases, but they are not the disease (see this abstract from a scientific publication).

The DM could rule otherwise

As an example of Rule 0, the DM can decide that what better suits their campaign, the tone of the party and, mainly, what is more fun for the table.

For example, they may decide that the faith of the Paladin is so strong that they can purify all the consequences of the sinful acts of their companions, such as STDs.

In my personal opinion, this could lead to really interesting role play between the group, for example if the Paladin and the Rogue have opposite views about "tavern adventuring time" or even if they are on the same page.

1 Credits to Kirt that pointed this out in the comments.

Eddymage
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    Also an Oath of the Ancients paladin may be reluctant to destroy essentially harmless creatures of nature. – biziclop Jun 28 '23 at 09:43
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    As you say, the DMG does not define disease. In the real world, external animal parasites (ectoparasites) are sometimes not called a disease (as in the links you provide), but sometimes they are. Real world usage varies. – Kirt Jun 28 '23 at 14:46
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    @Kirt It sounds a little bit nitpicking, but I included such information in the answer for completeness and moreover I linked an abstract that seems to clarify a little bit, imho. – Eddymage Jun 28 '23 at 15:30
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    @Eddymage Nice use of "nitpicking" when discussing lice :) – user3553031 Jun 28 '23 at 19:38
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    "they can purify all the consequences of the sinful acts of their companions, such as STDs" - It doesn't seem to have been established that promiscuous sexual activity is construed as 'sinful' in the OP's context. – aroth Jun 29 '23 at 03:48
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    @aroth It was an example of possible gameplay: indeed in the very next part of the same phrase I address what it seems to be happening in the OP's party. – Eddymage Jun 29 '23 at 06:30
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Not those parasites

According to the CDC, pubic lice are not and do not carry disease. The pruritus (itchy skin) they cause is possibly a disease.

Internal parasites like cryptosperidium or intestinal worms probably are a disease.

Dale M
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