House Diagnosis Diary: Season 4

[Photo: © 2009 FOX Broadcasting Co.]

Season 4 brought us the survival of the fittest docs trying to make it onto House’s new team. But it also gave us a bunch of new and amazing diagnoses. These are the diaganoses from season 4 of House:

• “Alone”
  Allergic reaction to cephalosporins, a class of antibiotics, in misidentified patient.
• “The Right Stuff”
  Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome – An inherited genetic condition that causes small tumors.
• “97 Seconds”
  Strongyloides – A human parasitic roundworm, complicated by Spinal Muscular Atrophy.
• “Guardian Angels”
  Ergot poisoning – A type of fungus found on certain grains (patient ate organic rye).
• “Mirror, Mirror”
  Eperythrozoon (a type of bacteria) – Infection due to exposure to pig feces by selling farm equipment.
• “Whatever It Takes”
  Thallium poisoning – Given by unethical doctor.
• “Ugly”
  Lyme disease – Complicated by facial deformity.
• “You Don’t Want To Know”
  Autoimmune hemolytic anemia – Type of lupus where the body’s immune system attacks red blood cells.
• “Games”
  Measles – Complicated by rocker lifestyle.
• “It’s A Wonderful Lie”
  Breast cancer – In displaced breast tissue.
• “Frozen”
  Fat embolism – Obstruction of blood vessel from unrepaired broken toe.
• “Don’t Ever Change”
  Nephroptosis – Floating kidney, which causes intermittent symptoms based on patient’s body position.
• “No More Mr. Nice Guy”
  Chagas disease – Caused by tropical parasitic protozoa.
• “Living the Dream”
  Hypersensitivity vasculitis – Damage to blood vessels due to Quinine allergy, a common ingredient in tonic
  water.
• “House’s Head”
  Air embolism – Obstruction of blood vessel from prior dental work.
• “Wilson’s Heart”
  Poisoning by Amantadine – An antiviral drug taken for the flu, which dialysis nor failed kidneys (nor a kidney transplant) could clear; complicated by injuries sustained in accident.