Illnesses (or Diseases) have been a part of The Sims series since The Sims: Livin' Large. They usually result in a significant drop in motives and mood, and may even cause death if not treated in time.

The Sims

Guinea Pig Fever

Guinea Pig Fever is introduced in Livin' Large. A Sim may catch it if they are bitten by a guinea pig that has a dirty cage, or from other Sims who have been infected with the disease. Custom content that uses the guinea pig object as a base will also cause the disease. Sims infected with Guinea Pig Disease will sneeze and cough and have a fever frequently, and their Comfort and Energy motives will rapidly decline. An infected Sim will die if not treated within time.

Guinea Pig Fever is managed by an invisible disease controller object which is present on the lot rather than being tied to a particular Sim (community lots and inventory tokens did not exist prior to Hot Date). An infected Sim will not display symptoms, infect other Sims, or die other than on the lot on which they caught the disease. Therefore, a Sim with the disease can safely go to a community lot or be invited to another Sim's house as a visitor. However, it is possible for a Sim to be infected on multiple lots, if they attend another residence where the infection is active as a visitor.

A Sim who dies from Guinea Pig Fever cannot be successfully resurrected by pleading with the Grim Reaper. Once they are restored to life they will immediately die again.^[1] This is because the resurrection code does not clear or reset the Sim's entry in the disease controller object.

Treatment

1. The Forgotten Guinea Pig painting will clear the disease from the household after 16 Sim hours.
2. If a Sim is infected with Guinea Pig Disease they have a chance of producing a white potion when they use The "Concoctanation Station" chemistry set, which will cure the disease in the Sim that drinks it.
3. Sims may recover on their own if their Comfort and Energy motives are kept high.

Poopy Pants

Poopy Pants (the name used by Maxis in the code), commonly referred to as Montezuma's Revenge, is a disease introduced in Vacation, which a Sim may contract if they eat at the buffet tables on Vacation Island when their Hygiene is low (the buffet tables introduced in House Party and Superstar cannot infect Sims). The disease causes infected Sims to periodically perform an animation of grabbing their buttocks as their Bladder motive rapidly decreases. This may be annoying for the player, as it causes the Sim to drop any queued actions, but it is generally harmless, and the disease will go away on its own after a period of time, unless the Sim continues to eat at the buffet table with low Hygiene. It is not contagious between Sims.

This disease can be completely avoided by having Sims use the grill to cook their food on vacation, rather than taking food from the buffet table.

Unlike Guinea Pig Disease, Poopy Pants is controlled by two invisible tokens which are tied to the Sim, rather than an invisible disease controller object on the lot, so the illness will persist even if the infected Sim visits or moves to a different lot.

Nervous Breakdown

The Nervous Breakdown is introduced in Superstar. If a famous Sim has repeated failures in Studio Town, they will enter a catatonic state for a brief period of time, and lose Comfort, Fun, Bladder and star power. Subsequently, the Sim's breakdown will be reported in the tabloid.^[2] This illness is a one-time event rather than a persistent condition, and is never fatal (Sims cannot die in Studio Town).

Other illnesses

A deadly plague that could kill entire neighborhoods (known as Unleashed Mystery Illness), and be spread by stray animals and NPCs, was rumored to have been introduced with Unleashed by users of The Sims official forums. However, its existence has never been verified. A hacked medicine cabinet object by C&C Enterprises was claimed by its creator to cure the disease, but the SimAntics code that is commented as curing the mystery illness actually clears one of the controller inventory tokens for Poopy Pants.

The Sims 2

The Sims 2 features multiple kinds of illnesses, each with its own symptoms and contagiousness. If certain illnesses are not cured within ten days, the Sim will die of their illness. A tombstone above the Sim's head indicates the Sim is near death from illness. Toddlers and Babies cannot get ill.

Sims who are employed can Call In Sick with their workplace on a phone, and they will be allowed to miss work without fear of being fired. The interaction is only available one hour before the carpool arrives until one hour after the job's start time. If the Sim calling in sick is not actually ill, its success is randomly determined based on the Sim's Creativity Skill. Sims who are caught faking an illness will be fired if at the base level of a career, or demoted otherwise. The interaction will always succeed if the Sim is genuinely ill.

Symptoms

• Coughing – Causes a drop in comfort.^[3]
• Sneezing – Causes a drop in comfort.
• Nausea – Causes a drop in comfort.
• Vomiting – Causes a drop in comfort. Affected Sim will run to a toilet, or vomit on the floor if they can't find one.
• Diarrhea – Causes a drop in bladder.
• Fatigue – Causes a drop in energy.

Contagiousness

Food poisoning and morning sickness cannot be passed between Sims. All other diseases can, to varying degrees. Mysterious Disease is more contagious than flu, which is more contagious than a cold, which is more contagious than pneumonia.

Illnesses

Morning sickness

Morning sickness will almost always happen when a Sim is pregnant and during the first trimester. It has the same symptoms as food poisoning, vomiting and nausea, but is not contagious or fatal.^[3] There is no way to prevent morning sickness and its intensity varies between Sims.

Food Poisoning

There is a 10% chance any time a Sim eats spoiled or burned food that the Sim will get food poisoning. This can occur if food spoils while a Sim is eating it, or if sloppy Sims eat out of the rubbish bin. Sims with Food Poisoning will experience vomiting and nausea. It is not contagious but Sims can potentially die from the illness.

Cold

Sims have a 1% chance to catch a cold when returning home from work or school. Being at a low temperature for too long can also cause a cold. Colds are highly contagious, and infected Sims will suffer from coughing and sneezing fits, causing drops in comfort. In an unmodded game, colds are fatal, which was not intended to happen by the developers. It was suppose to develop into pneumonia if not cured within ten days, there is a mod that corrects this error.

Pneumonia

If a cold is not cured within ten days it will develop into pneumonia. Sims with pneumonia will experience coughing fits, as well as sharp and sudden drops in energy which may cause a Sim to pass out. Pneumonia is slightly contagious, and is fatal if untreated.

Influenza (flu)

Sims have a 1% chance to catch influenza when returning home from work or school. Additionally, if a Sim goes near cockroaches, there is a 5% chance they will catch influenza. Sims with Influenza will experience coughing fits and peeing on floor and even sore throat, as well as sharp drops in fun and energy as well^{[confirmation needed]}. Exterminators and evil witches are immune to influenza.^[4] Influenza is highly contagious and fatal if untreated.

When the Beaker family in Strangetown is first played, there will be cockroaches near the refrigerator, that will spawn when Nervous goes to stuff his face from the refrigerator. Both Loki and Nervous will go to stomp on them and are likely to catch influenza. It is best to cancel out this action before they get there and call an exterminator.

Mysterious Disease

Also known as a virus, Sims can be infected with the Mysterious Disease when using the biotech station. There is a 0% to 60% chance of catching the virus, which will be lower depending on the mood, logic skill, nice personality points, and hygiene of the Sim. Sims who are infected with the virus will experience two random symptoms, which can differ between Sims with the same strain of virus. The Mysterious Disease is potentially fatal and extremely contagious, able to easily spread through an entire neighborhood in a matter of days.

Treatment

The best cure for all illnesses is rest. Sick Sims should be kept away from healthy Sims, and should not be standing for too long. Their comfort and energy can be kept high by making them sleep and relax on a bed, until a message appears saying they are cured. Meditation can be used to freeze these motives in order to keep them high.

Sims can make medicine with the biotech station which will reduce the duration of an illness. The medicine does not work correctly without FreeTime or Apartment Life however. A mod from More Awesome Than You! can be used to make the medicine to work properly in games without these expansions installed.

If Seasons is installed, drinking orange juice made from Tasty or Mouthwatering fruit can cure colds, or at least reduce the duration of the illness.

If FreeTime is installed, Sims with Family as their primary or secondary aspiration can purchase the aspiration benefit Grandma's Comfort Soup, which allows them to cook a special soup regardless of their cooking skill. When eaten by a Sim, this soup will cure any disease they have. If The Sims 2: Open for Business is also installed, Grandma's Comfort Soup can be added to the menu in an owned restaurant regardless of possessing the benefit or not, which will cure any customers that are ill.

If Apartment Life is installed, good and neutral witches can cast the Remedis Simae spell to cure a Sim from any illness.

The Sims 3

Nausea

Nausea is a common illness that Sims can experience from a wide variety of causes. Affected Sims will get the "Nauseous" moodlet that lasts for 2 hours, and after the moodlet expires the affected Sim will throw up. Nausea isn't contagious or fatal and is effectively cured after the affected Sim vomits. There are many different ways for Sims to become nauseous.

Regular nausea can be prevented indefinitely with the "Strong Stomach"^[TS3:IP] or "Simmunity"^[TS3:S] lifetime rewards, which cost 2,000 and 7,500 lifetime happiness respectively. Plumbots^[TS3:ITF] are immune by default to all causes except for Visceroidal Nausea. If the Sim is inside a rabbit hole when the timer expires, the Sim will usually not exit the rabbit hole in order to vomit.

Virtual Nausea

Virtual nausea is a variation of the regular nausea. Sims can become the "Virtually Nauseous" moodlet when they're using the SimLife Goggles too much. It's possibly based on the real life virtual reality sickness.

The Sims 3: World Adventures

Mummy's Curse

The Mummy's Curse is introduced with The Sims 3: World Adventures. If a Sim loses a fight with a Mummy, there's a chance they will get cursed. If the curse is not cured after two weeks, the Sim will die. Cursed Sims can go to The Great Sphinx in Al Simhara and make a plea to enter the tomb. Once inside they can receive a blessing from the Soulpeace Statue in the deepest part of the tomb to have the curse lifted. The Mummy's Curse can also be cured by being kissed by a King Cobra with the snake charming basket.

Samir Kohar, Timmy DeBleu, Tina-Patricia Copper and Alexa Burt are pre-made deceased Sims known to have died from the Mummy's Curse.

The Sims 3: Late Night

Food Poisoning

Food Poisoning is introduced in The Sims 3: Late Night. There is a 15% chance that eating from a food truck will give Sims the "Food Poisoning" moodlet. Snob Sims have a 30% chance of getting food poisoning from the food truck. Affected Sims will experience nausea and vomiting.

The Sims 3: Supernatural

Pestilence Plague

In The Sims 3: Supernatural, if a Sim is cursed with the Pestilence Curse by a witch and is not cured within 24 hours, they can get the Pestilence Plague. The curse is very contagious and affected Sims can infect any other Sims they come into contact with, giving them either "Sick and Tired" (which results in them getting the plague too), Nauseous, Disgusted, or any combination of those 3 moodlets.

Known ways to cure it include being given Sunlight Charm, using the Cure Elixir or Potent Cure Elixir, or simply waiting for the 2-day timer to run out.

Despite the moodlets' descriptions, the Hunger and Energy motives do not decay faster than normal, and neither honey or Ghost Chili cures it either. While coughing, the Sim will have a Smelly green aura around them for a few in-game minutes, but their Hygiene motive is not affected by this. Small flies will occasionally fly around Pestilence Plague and "Sick and Tired" Sims alike, but they do not have any gameplay effects either.

If enough Sims in a world are given the curse, the post-illness immunity time (2 days) is short enough that NPCs can end up spreading the Plague between each other over and over even if a witch tries to cure them one by one, making the Pestilence Plague a chronic presence in that savefile shy of very extensive use of game mods to handle Sims' moodlets or to reset them further than what the resetSim cheat does. Sims with immunity from the Plague itself are not immune to becoming nauseous when nearing a coughing Plague-struck Sim.

The Sims 3: Seasons

Cold

In The Sims 3: Seasons, Sims can get colds, more likely in fall but can happen any other time of year Players will be notified when their Sims get a cold, "(Sim Name) is starting to feel a bit ill". Sims who get a cold will have "Germy" moodlet that will last for 2 days. The cold is contagious, so it is best to keep sick Sims away from healthy Sims. Sims can get health advice at the hospital or get a flu shot (even after contracting the cold) that will make them immune for a full-year for §200 each. The flu shot is only available in fall and winter.

The cold has virtually no effect on gameplay, as the affected Sims can run, work, and even exercise just as normally, and the Energy motive doesn't appear to sink any faster either.

If The Sims 3: Pets is also installed, dogs can also get a cold and the "Germy" moodlet. The cold is still contagious, and can infect healthy Sims and dogs. Since dogs are pets, they cannot get a flu shot at hospital, so the only way for them to be cured is by waiting for the moodlet to expire.

Allergy

In The Sims 3: Seasons, Sims can get allergies from wildflowers, more likely in Spring. Sims get "Allergy Haze" moodlet when they get allergies, which lasts for up to 10 days. They can get an allergy shot at the hospital for §200. The allergy shot is only available in Spring. Allergies are genetic, and they may be passed down to the offspring.

The Sims 3: University Life

Herb Nausea

Herb Nausea is introduced in The Sims 3: University Life. Consuming or burning herbs can sometimes cause Sims to get nauseous and make them vomit when the timer runs out. If the Sims with herb nausea eat another herb before timer runs out, they will vomit instantly. Consuming Sweet Grass will cause this moodlet to disappear without vomiting.

Giggle Fits

Giggle Fits is a condition that is introduced in The Sims 3: University Life. Sims can get giggle fits after donating giggles to the Busche School of Science. Affected Sims will uncontrollably giggle for a period of time. It's the only illness that has a positive moodlet.

The Sims 3: Into the Future

Time Paradox Sickness

In The Sims 3: Into the Future, there is a chance for Sims who time travel to be affected with Time Paradox Sickness due to a time anomaly. The sickness can be treated at a hospital, but if untreated the affected Sim will Die of Time Anomaly.

Jared Ferris and Saige Spier are pre-made deceased Sims known to have died from Time Paradox Sickness.

Wasteland Pox

In The Sims 3: Into the Future, the Sweating for Science opportunity offered by Emit Relevart, causes Wasteland Pox after the first fragment dig. It uses the same icon as Nauseous, but lasts for 2 days. It can be cured by going to a hospital. Nothing occurs if the moodlet expires without having being cured.

The Sims 3 Store

Garlic Allergy

Appears when vampires from Late Night or Supernatural eat garlic bread from the Monte Vista wood fire oven.

Dragon Curse

If Supernatural is also installed, the Sim will become a zombie.

The Sims Medieval

Unlike The Sims 3, The Sims Medieval features both injury and disease. Diseases will usually give Sims a bad moodlet and can be cured by visiting a Physician or by applying curative tonics or health salves. All diseases are contagious.

Diseases

Sickness

This is the first and the least serious form of a disease. It can easily be cured by applying Weak Curative Tonics, or by visiting a Physician. Gives a -10 moodlet.

Infection

If a sickness is not cured, then it will turn into an infection. Infections are usually cured by applying Moderate Curative Tonics (unlocked by Quest) or by visiting a Physician. Gives a -20 moodlet.

Disease

An infection will turn into a disease if cure is not met. This kind of disease is quite serious. It can easily be cured by applying Strong Curative Tonics or visiting a Physician. Gives a -30 moodlet.

Plague

In case a disease is not cured, it will turn into a plague. When a Sim has a plague, black smoke will appear above their head. A Plague can only be cured by visiting a Physician. It can also be reduced to an illness by a Wizard, using the spell Miasma. Mend will also completely remove it after using the spell Miasma to reduce it. Gives a -50 moodlet.

Injuries

Minor Injury

This is the least serious form of injury. It can easily be healed either by applying Weak Health Salves or visiting a Physician. Gives a -10 moodlet.

Moderate Injury

When a minor injury is not healed, it will turn into a moderate injury. Moderate injuries can be healed by applying Moderate Health Salves (unlocked by Quest) or visiting a Physician. Gives a -20 moodlet.

Major Injury

The second most serious form of injury. The Sim will be in bandages. It can easily be healed by applying Strong Health Salves or visiting a Physician. Gives a -30 moodlet. This one is usually the most serious one to come into play regularly.

Grievous Injury

The worst form of injury, The Sim will, of course, be in Bandages, and debilitated rather severely. It can be healed or improved by applying Strong Health Salves or visiting a Physician. it gives a -40 moodlet. This Injury is uncommon save for certain circumstances in Quests.

Other

Nauseous

Drinking 6 drinks in a relatively short timespan will make the Sim nauseous. The Sim takes 1 hour before vomiting.

The Sims 4

Nausea

In The Sims 4, Sims can experience nausea for various reasons, such as morning sickness from pregnancy or by eating spoiled food. Sims with the squeamish trait will become nauseous if they get into fights, witness death or another Sim vomiting, experience privacy violations, or do anything involving "creepy crawlies", such as fishing or searching for frogs. Vegetarian Sims also become nauseous after eating food that includes meat; this applies to lactose intolerant Sims with dairy.

When Sims become nauseous, they will receive two moodlets, one after the other, which both last an hour. The first moodlet will state that the Sim's stomach is upset, while the second one will imply he/she is ready to vomit. Sims have a 50% chance of vomiting before the second moodlet expires. If the Sim vomits, they will run to a toilet, but if there's no toilet nearby or the nauseous Sim is in the middle of performing a task, they will vomit on the ground. In The Sims 4: Get Together, Sims may run to a bush to vomit. As soon as the Sim vomits, the nauseous moodlet will go away. Squeamish Sims have an option of taking deep breaths, which will cure their nausea instantly. In The Sims 4: Discover University, there is a chance for a Sim to become nauseous one hour before class time in anticipation of the final exam, along with the “Cram for the Exam” +2 uncomfortable moodlet (may also receive +2 tense of the same moodlet in some circumstances).

In The Sims 4: Vampires, vampires with the "Withered Stomach" weakness will get this from eating normal food; this also enables them to vomit into a toilet at will.

Homesickness

Sims may get a sad moodlet from being homesick while on vacation. This was originally exclusive to The Sims 4: Outdoor Retreat, but as of Patch 103 (which accommodated the release of The Sims 4: Snowy Escape), it can also occur in the base game if a Sim is at a rental lot in a residential world.

Get to Work illnesses

Various illnesses are introduced in The Sims 4: Get to Work, each with their own unique symptoms. Sims who are ill will receive an uncomfortable moodlet relating to the illness. Most illnesses are not serious and are easily cured by drinking orange juice, hot tea, or medicine (which can be purchased from a computer), or by napping or sleeping. None of the diseases are fatal.

Cause	Description
Bloaty Head	Headache, steam coming out of the ears
Burning Belly	Fever, stomach ache
Gas and Giggles	Stomach ache, giggly, striped rash
Itchy Plumbob	Itchiness, striped rash
Llama Flu	Splotchy rash, fever, coughing and sneezing
Starry Eyes	Dizziness, delirium (will swat at the air), swirly rash
Sweaty Shivers	Splotchy rash, fever, itchiness
Triple Threat	Dizziness, coughing, swirly rash

Food Poisoning

In The Sims 4: Dine Out, Sims will sometimes get food poisoning after eating out at a restaurant. Sims who experience food poisoning can call the restaurant directly to report it and potentially receive a small payout.

This section is in need of additional information. You can help The Sims Wiki by expanding this section.

Poison

In The Sims 4: Jungle Adventure, Sims can get poisoned by a spider bite, bee sting, passing through a gas door, being near a ghost who died from poison, or being hit by a poison dart. The poison either wears off on its own after 12 hours or get worse, and the Sim will feel dazed. If the poison worsens, the moodlet changes to "Poisoned!", a +6 dazed moodlet which lasts 1 day. If still not cured, the moodlet changes to the "Overwhelmingly Poisoned" +10 dazed moodlet which lasts another 8 hours. If the Overwhelmingly Poisoned moodlet expires the Sim will clench their stomach, have a muscle spasm, and die. Sims can purchase an antidote for §1,000 on the computer to cure the poison; they can also receive an antidote for free from a Selvadoradian local if they have any bone dust in their inventory that they acquired from a temple. Poisoned Sims will have green circles all over their body and have gas.

Rabid Rodent Fever

Rabid Rodent Fever is a serious illness introduced in The Sims 4: My First Pet Stuff. Sims who have a low relationship with their pet rodents may be bitten by them, and if the habitat is dirty, they will contract a highly contagious and deadly disease.^[5] Sims who succumb to the illness will scratch at their heads like a rodent, foam at the mouth, and fall to the ground, and their ghost appears wearing a rodent outfit. The first stage of this illness will give a +1 uncomfortable moodlet, the second stage will give a +2 uncomfortable moodlet, and the final stage will give them a +2 dazed moodlet.

Cold

In The Sims 4: Seasons, Sims have a chance of catching a cold in winter. It can be remedied by staying hydrated or taking medicine. There does not seem to be a related moodlet, but Sims will often become dizzy when they have a cold. The player is also notified when a sick Sim is cured.

Werebies

In The Sims 4: Werewolves, Sims can catch werebies from fighting with a werewolf or exploring the Moonwood Mill underground. Werebies starts with a +3 angry moodlet that lasts 4 hours. After 4 hours, it becomes the "Advanced Werebies" +3 tense moodlet and lasts 20 hours. Once the "Advanced Werebies" moodlet expires, it becomes the "Insatiable Hunger" +2 uncomfortable moodlet. At this stage of werebies the hunger motive will drain rapidly. Once that moodlet expires they will gain the "Ravenous Hunger" +3 uncomfortable moodlet, which lasts for 3 hours and further increases the rate of hunger decay. The Sim becomes a werewolf after the "Ravenous Hunger" moodlet expires. While werebies is not directly fatal, the final two stages of the illness will make death from starvation occur sooner. Werebies can be cured in the Werebies or Advanced Werebies stage by asking locals around Moonwood Mill or by spitting out in the toilet.

Spacebending

In The Sims 4: Businesses & Hobbies, Sims that have "Spacebender" mastery perk unlocked will sometimes encounter sickness with the "Spacebending Sickness" Uncomfortable +2 moodlet upon being teleported to their another location. At this point, Sims will not able to spacebend to another location while the buff is in effect.

Ailments

In The Sims 4: Enchanted by Nature, Sims who spend time living outdoors can contract ailments. These ailments can sometimes boost certain skills, but may also cause problems for the Sim or those around them. Ailments can also be given by trickster fairies. Ailments can be cured through the use of the Apothecary skill or with harmonious fairies.

Added in Patch 186, Players can turn off these kind of ailments in the game settings by unchecking the "Enable Ailment Spread" option.

Icon	Name	Effect	Emotion
	Creation Impulse	A Sim with this Ailment will get the uncontrollable itch to create something using their Skills, such as Painting or Woodworking.	Dazed
	Emotional Void	A Sim with this Ailment will feel their Emotions dampened, as will Sims who spend time near them.	Fine
	Gnome Lure	A Sim with this Ailment will attract Gnomes to their lot. Beware, some Gnomes are Good while others are Evil!	Happy
	Greenie Meanie	A Sim with this Ailment gains an uncanny understanding of Gardening, but becomes prone to angry outbursts that will upset nearby Sims!	Angry
	Luck Magnet	A Sim with this Ailment will draw in Luck from nearby Sims, improving their own Luck while worsening it for others.	Happy
	Burning Passion	A Sim with this Ailment will fill with a fiery passion that makes them feel Flirty while also scorching objects in their environment.	Uncomfortable
	Simoleon Fever	A Sim with this uncomfortable Ailment will cough up Simoleons.	Uncomfortable
	Sonic Sinuses	A Sim with this ailment attunes strangely with certain objects; their sneezes gain power that breaks things around them, but they learn Handiness and repair objects faster.	Uncomfortable

References