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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

Infographic ranking best episodes in House MD

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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