Pa'nar Syndrome

Pa'nar Syndrome is a fictional neurological ailment presented in the Star Trek universe.

Pa'nar Syndrome is not fully explained in the series, either before or after "Stigma". Its symptoms are as follows: neurolytic enzymes increase exponentially over a period of weeks and months. (Neurolysis translates to the destruction of neurones) The syndrome effects the synaptic pathways within the brain and effects the endocrine and immune systems.

In Star Trek: Enterprise, T'Pol contracts this relatively rare disease from Tolaris, a member of a rebellious Vulcan sect, the V'tosh ka'tur. In T'Pol's words, these people are "Vulcans without Logic," experimenters with mind melds, emotions and other questionable activities. The event is seen in "Fusion", but it seems that, at first, T'Pol willingly undergoes the procedure, unaware of the risks. It is moments later, and described in "Stigma", that T'Pol resists and is telepathically raped by Tolaris.

Pa'nar Syndrome is transferred between Vulcans via a mind-meld. In the Season 2 episode "Stigma", T'Pol is officially diagnosed with this ailment by Dr. Phlox. At this time in the Star Trek universe, only a small portion of Vulcans have the ability, or rather, exercise the ability, to perform a mind meld. Of these, a fraction of the capables have Pa'nar Syndrome, and only these can transmit it to another. Their behavior is neither tolerated nor sanctioned by the Vulcan government.

It is not known whether this disease is transferrable to humans, but it is fatal to Vulcans. Pa'nar Syndrome is not a priority item for extensive medical research by the Vulcan Science Directorate, though T'Pol received a great deal of information on the syndrome from a member of the VSD, who was a member of the minority "melder" group.

AIDS metaphor
At the time of the episode "Stigma", UPN required all of its series to dedicate at least one episode to AIDS Awareness. This episode was the result.