Ohsumi's Dermatitis - The Pink Crusties
When it was first encountered, it was believed that Ohsumi's Dermatitis was a contagious pathogen. Hundreds of people developed it in mass outbreaks, with festivals being the only common denominator. However, the work of Dr. Ohsumi Sato revealed that it was an allergic reaction. Specifically a reaction to a protein found in one of the most popular snack foods on Tanit II, Pink Shrimp.
Transmission & Vectors
Ohsumi's Dermatitis is an allergic response to a unique protein contained in all life stages of the Pink Shrimp. The protein itself is naturally occurring, and essential to their development. Unfortunately, 75% of Terrans can't break it down and react to it. Proper preparation in the cooking and handling process will denature the protein and render the Pink Shrimp safe to eat. Despite early assumptions, it's not normally transmissible from person to person outside of some very specific circumstances (like making out with someone who just ate improperly prepared Pink Shrimp).
Causes
The TCA2-36C protein is the source of the issue. It's a protein that cannot be broken down by an unmodified Terran gut.
Symptoms
The subject breaks out in bright pinkish hives and lesions around their mouth and on their hands or anywhere on their bodies they've touched with contaminated hands, often with a salty crust around the edges (the "pink crusties"). Advanced cases include swelling, brain fog, and, bizarrely, an urge to eat more Pink Shrimp.
Treatment
A full bathing experience and oral rinse, followed by several rounds of antihistamines and a denaturing pill. The latter is a unique medicine that works to denature the protein in the gut.
Prognosis
Good. 98% of people who suffer any level of Ohsumi's Dermatitis survive. the 2% who don't generally have other underlaying conditions, or continue to consume incorrectly prepared Pink Shrimp until their bodies succumb to secondary infections.
Prevention
"Cook the Damn Shrimp Right!" posters and public safety announcements are literally everywhere in life on Tanit II. The ubiquitous Pink Shrimp are a popular food because of their taste and high levels of protein and nutrients, so the best prevention is to cook them properly.
Epidemiology
The Pink Crusties used to be a common issue on Tanit II, but as the cause was better understood, outbreaks are almost unheard of, with individual and family level cases being the most common. It's functionally unknown off of Tanit II, as all officially shipped Pink Shrimp products are processed before leaving the planet.
History
The first recorded cases were within years of the first colonies being established. Pink Shrimp are delicious and people were excited to eat them. Tracking the actual cause of the condition was the problem, because of the different culinary traditions that were preparing it. Once Ohsumi Sato isolated the issue, it was swiftly reduced from a common and festival associated disease to being an uncommon occurrence.
Cultural Reception
in the past? It was seen as a unfortunate experience that lots of people had but usually recovered from. In the modern age, it's seen either as a result of unlucky survival conditions, or poor culinary skills.
Origin
Natural
Cycle
Short-term
Rarity
Rare
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