Paladins and worm infestation

[Tim Smith]

Sorry if this should be really obvious, but are Paladins immune to the worm infestation since they are immune to disease? I am thinking that they must be, since they are immune to magical diseases and "cure disease" kills the worms, but is the worm infestation technically a disease?

[Sebastian]

James Jacobs has posted that he does not believe paladins are immune to the kyuss worms, but I think that either position can be argued under the rules.

[Joey Virtue]

The Worms are also a Curse and they are not imune to Curses

[Gold Katana]

Yes, there was an extensive post on this early in the campaign. Of course, play as you want. By a strict RAW and editor clarification, the worms are not diseases or curses per se - thus, they are not hindered by PC's various immunities.

[Heathansson]

What if the paladin had the gruesome things squirming around in his innards, but was immune to whatever it is they do to humans? Is a parasitic infestation different than a disease? Can paladins get tape worms?
He could be a typhoid mary, spreading the love as it were. An immune carrier.

[James Jacobs]

The kyuss worm mechanic does not use the disease mechanic, nor are the worms called a "disease" in the monster description despite the fact that remove disease can destroy them. Paladins should thus be just as susceptible to Kyuss worms as anyone else, although if they're high-enough level they can get rid of them easilly enough with their spells and powers.

Of course, if you want to house-rule paladins some immunity to Kyuss worms (and higher level monks, for that matter), that'd probably be cool since immunity to disease is such a weak ability anyway in the grand scheme of class abilities. It could probably stand for getting a bone tossed its way.

Creatures that are immune to Intelligence damage, on the other hand, are immune to Kyuss worms.