The Clinical Case Files of House, M.D.: A List of Medical Diagnoses in House MD as a Resource for Medical Education
- Mar 26
- 12 min read

The television series House, M.D., renowned for its complex medical mysteries and the unconventional brilliance of its protagonist, offers a unique window into the world of diagnostic medicine. While fictional, the show presents a vast array of medical conditions, often in their most challenging and atypical presentations. This article explores the potential utility of a comprehensive list of these diagnoses, such as the one meticulously compiled by the House Wiki, for medical students and healthcare professionals seeking exposure to diverse clinical cases.
The provided sources contain a detailed list of medical diagnoses from all eight seasons of House, M.D.. This compilation serves as a readily accessible catalog of diverse medical entities encountered throughout the show's run.
List of Medical Diagnoses in House MD by Season
Below is a list of medical diagnoses presented in House, M.D., organized by season, including the episode number and name:
Season 1
Episode | Episode Name | Medical Diagnosis |
1 | Pilot | Neurocysticercosis |
2 | Paternity | Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis |
3 | Occam's Razor | Colchicine poisoning |
4 | Maternity | Echovirus 11, Baby Boy Hausen (diagnosis unclear), Baby Boy Chen-Lupino? (diagnosis unclear) |
5 | Damned If You Do | Allergic reaction to copper IUD |
6 | The Socratic Method | Vitamin K deficiency, liver cancer, Wilson's disease |
7 | Fidelity | African trypanosomiasis |
8 | Poison | Organophosphate poisoning |
9 | DNR | Arteriovenous malformation |
10 | Histories | Rabies |
11 | Detox | Naphthalene poisoning |
12 | Sports Medicine | Cadmium poisoning |
13 | Cursed | Leprosy |
14 | Control | Congestive heart failure due to drug abuse |
15 | Mob Rules | Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency |
16 | Heavy | Cushing's disease |
17 | Role Model | Common variable immunodeficiency disease from interaction of Epstein-Barr virus with anti-seizure medication |
18 | Babies & Bathwater | Small-cell lung cancer |
19 | Kids | Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura |
20 | Love Hurts | Fulminating osteomyelitis |
21 | Three Stories | Necrotizing fasciitis, Cancerous adenoma, Necrosis due to muscle death due to infarction due to clot due to aneurysm (for Gregory House) |
22 | Honeymoon | Acute intermittent porphyria |
Season 2
Season 3
Season 4
Season 5
Season 6
Season 7
Season 8
Recurring Diagnoses
This section compiles all episodes where the same medical case was diagnosed:
Wilson's disease: Season 1, Episode 6; Season 6, Episode 12
Small-cell lung cancer: Season 1, Episode 18; Season 3, Episode 6
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: Season 1, Episode 19; Season 6, Episode 9
Legionellosis: Season 2, Episode 20; Season 2, Episode 21
Hepatoma: Season 2, Episode 8
Hemochromatosis: Season 3, Episode 23; Season 6, Episode 7
Sepsis: Season 2, Episode 8; Season 3, Episode 20
Blastomycosis: Season 5, Episode 20; Season 6, Episode 4
Patent ductus arteriosus: Season 5, Episode 13; Season 8, Episode 18
Melanoma: Season 6, Episode 13; Season 7, Episode 5
Filtered List by Organ System Affected
The following list categorizes the diagnoses by the primary organ system affected, presented in the requested order. Please note that some conditions may involve multiple organ systems. In such cases, the primary or most relevant system for initial presentation or diagnosis in the show was considered.
Immune and Infectious Diseases
• S1, E4: Echovirus 11
• S1, E5: Allergic reaction to copper IUD
• S1, E7: African trypanosomiasis
• S1, E10: Rabies
• S1, E13: Leprosy
• S1, E17: Common variable immunodeficiency disease from interaction of Epstein-Barr virus with anti-seizure medication
• S1, E21: Necrotizing fasciitis
• S2, E3: Psittacosis
• S2, E7: Echinococcosis
• S2, E8: Behcet's disease
• S2, E8: Sepsis
• S2, E9: Clostridium perfringens infection
• S2, E10: Cerebral Malaria
• S2, E14: Brucellosis
• S2, E18: Bubonic plague
• S2, E20: Legionellosis
• S2, E21: Legionellosis (induced)
• S2, E23: Zygomycosis
• S3, E4: Baylisascaris
• S3, E5: Hereditary Angioedema
• S3, E8: Chronic granulomatous disease
• S3, E12: Athlete's foot in nose
• S3, E15: Takayasu's arteritis
• S3, E20: Sepsis from Staphylococcus infection
• S3, E21: Histoplasmosis
• S3, E22: Infection from artery/vein fistula in intestine as the result of ingestion of caustic substance in suicide attempt
• S3, E24: Infected third ostium
• S4, E1: Allergic reaction to antibiotics
• S4, E3: Strongyloides
• S4, E5: Eperythrozoon infection
• S4, E7: Lyme disease
• S4, E8: Lupus
• S4, E9: Measles
• S4, E13: Chagas disease
• S4, E14: Quinine allergy
• S5, E1: Lepromatous leprosy
• S5, E5: Sjögren's syndrome
• S5, E6: Familial Mediterranean fever
• S5, E9: Melioidosis
• S5, E15: Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome
• S5, E17: Autoimmunity secondary to Doege-Potter syndrome
• S5, E20: Visceral leishmaniasis
• S5, E20: Blastomycosis
• S5, E21: Sporotrichosis
• S5, E22: Sarcoidosis
• S5, E23: Gonorrhea
• S6, E4: Blastomycosis
• S6, E5: Primary Antiphospholipid syndrome
• S6, E7: Vibrio vulnificus
• S6, E9: Henoch-Schönlein Purpura
• S6, E13: Paraneoplastic syndrome secondary to melanoma
• S6, E15: Whipple's disease
• S6, E16: Cerebellar schistosomiasis delayed hypersensitivity allergy
• S6, E19: Henoch-Schönlein Purpura
• S7, E6: Hepatitis C
• S7, E7: Rickettsialpox
• S7, E9: Varicella
• S7, E14: Muckle-Wells syndrome
• S7, E15: Staphylococcus from an abscess
• S7, E15: Antibiotic allergy
• S7, E16: Bartonella
• S7, E18: Q fever
• S7, E22: Entamoeba
• S7, E23: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
• S8, E1: Mastocytosis
• S8, E5: Kawasaki disease
• S8, E6: Syphilis
• S8, E6: Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction
• S8, E8: Diphtheria
• S8, E10: Ascariasis
• S8, E14: Mucormycosis
• S8, E15: Typhus
• S8, E22: Autoimmune response to an inhaled piece of plant matter
Lymphoreticular & Blood
Cardiovascular
Skin & Subcutaneous tissue
Musculoskeletal & Connective tissue
Nervous & Special Senses
Behavioral Health
Endocrine
Female reproductive
Pregnancy, Childbirth, Puerperium
Male reproductive
Renal & Urinary
Respiratory
Gastrointestinal
The Educational Value of Medical Drama
Shows like House, M.D., while dramatized for entertainment, can serve as an engaging supplementary resource for medical education. By presenting a wide spectrum of diseases in this List of Medical Diagnoses in House MD, often rare or with unusual presentations, the show can spark curiosity and encourage further exploration of medical literature. The "differential diagnosis" process, a central theme in the show, mirrors the critical thinking skills essential for healthcare professionals.
However, it is crucial to remember that these are fictional portrayals. The rapid pace of diagnosis, the often-antagonistic doctor-patient interactions, and the focus on the most obscure possibilities are not representative of everyday medical practice. Nonetheless, the exposure to a variety of medical terms, pathophysiological concepts, and potential clinical manifestations can be beneficial, especially when used in conjunction with traditional learning methods.
For those who believe that learning and entertainment can go hand-in-hand, and for resources that aim to convey complex information in an accessible and engaging manner, we invite you to explore sherringford.org. This platform, inspired by the spirit of insightful deduction and the exploration of intricate details, strives to make learning an enjoyable and enriching experience.
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