Allergic Reaction

Allergic Reaction is a disease state caused by the Floral Scent germ in Oxygen Not Included. It is most commonly contracted when Duplicants are exposed to Floral Scent–containing gases emitted by plants such as Bristle Blossoms and Buddy Buds; Bristle Blossoms only emit Floral Scent germs while they are blooming. Floral Scent germs exist in gaseous form and have defined environmental survivability: they persist between -10 °C and 100 °C and across pressures from 0 kg to 1000 kg. Floral Scent germs are classified as being disinfected by contact with solids, gases, oxygen, or liquids, and they die off much faster in Polluted Oxygen than in regular Oxygen.

The Allergic Reaction disease applies both a negative trait to the afflicted Duplicant and a minor positive buff to others in proximity. A Duplicant with the Allergic trait suffers +15% stress per cycle and +10 sneeziness, while other nearby Duplicants receive -5% stress per cycle. The reaction lasts 0.1 cycles per instance. Infection from Floral Scent germs is binary: exposure either results in contraction or it does not, and chances to contract are not modified by immune-boosting stats.

Prevention and treatment revolve around the Allergy Medication produced in the Apothecary. A single unit of Allergy Medication is made from 1 Blossom Seed + 1 kg Dirt → 1 Allergy Medication. Giving a Duplicant Allergy Medication prevents Allergic Reactions for 720 seconds; the same medication cures an active Allergic Reaction. Allergic Reactions can also be mitigated using bleach stone to reduce germ loads in the environment. Note that cultivating the source plants (for example, keeping Bristle Blossoms available to obtain Blossom Seeds) exposes the base to Floral Scent germs, so obtaining the medicine may increase environmental exposure.

Practical points and interactions:

• Bristle Blossoms and Buddy Buds are primary local sources of Floral Scent germs; only blooming Bristle Blossoms spread Floral Scent.
• Polluted Oxygen generated by slime in an atmosphere containing Floral Scent will contain Floral Scent germs rather than Slimelung germs; this can be used to produce oxygen free of Slimelung but containing Floral Scent.
• Floral Scent germs are disinfected by contact with solids, gases, Oxygen, or liquids; they decay much faster in Polluted Oxygen, effectively making Polluted Oxygen a strong disinfectant for them.
• Infection mechanics are binary and ignore immune-boosting attributes; managing exposure is more reliable than attempting to modify susceptibility.
• Allergy Medication provides both a cure and a time-limited immunity; stockpiling Apothecaries and Blossom Seeds allows on-demand treatment.
• Using bleach stone in contaminated areas lowers ambient germ counts and reduces the chance of new infections.
• Because obtaining Allergy Medication typically requires cultivating or harvesting flowering plants, design medicine production away from high-traffic living and work areas or isolate plant rooms and vent floral gases safely to limit accidental exposure.

Avoiding the condition entirely is a viable strategy: limit access to Floral Scent sources, isolate Bristle Blossoms and Buddy Buds, and situate Apothecaries so that production does not require placing plants in shared atmospheres.