Season 7
Episode 5 - Unplanned Parenthood
Brief Plot Summary
After Abbey gives birth to her new baby, the baby begins to have breathing problems which the team concludes is pulmonary edema caused by liver failure. They think it could be Caroli disease but her BP keeps dropping during surgery indicating a vascular problem as well. However, it seems that a blood transfusion from Abbey made the baby better. Testing the baby's blood, they realize she has melanoma and proceed to check the mother. However, because the melanoma was transferred they know it's late stage, yet she looks healthy. Her immune system seems to be fighting something else and the antibodies are treating for melanoma which is why the baby is getting better. They find she has lung cancer. As she waits for treatment to allow her blood to continue treating the baby, she dies from a massive pulmonary embolism.
After Abbey gives birth to her new baby, the baby begins to have breathing problems which the team concludes is pulmonary edema caused by liver failure. They think it could be Caroli disease but her BP keeps dropping during surgery indicating a vascular problem as well. However, it seems that a blood transfusion from Abbey made the baby better. Testing the baby's blood, they realize she has melanoma and proceed to check the mother. However, because the melanoma was transferred they know it's late stage, yet she looks healthy. Her immune system seems to be fighting something else and the antibodies are treating for melanoma which is why the baby is getting better. They find she has lung cancer. As she waits for treatment to allow her blood to continue treating the baby, she dies from a massive pulmonary embolism.
Diagnosed Disease: Melanoma - Skin cancer. Look at S6 E13 for more details
Episode 6 - Office Politics
Brief Plot Summary
Joe Dugan is admitted when he suffers a rash on his arm and is found to have liver failure. They think it could ecoli infection; however he suddenly becomes paralyzed. They believe that he could have a neuroendocrine tumor, but find nothing. His kidneys begin failing as well. House believes it could be hepatitis C and he gives him interferon, which doesn't work. They decide to try an experimental treatment of giving him hepatitis A to cure his hepatitis C.
Joe Dugan is admitted when he suffers a rash on his arm and is found to have liver failure. They think it could ecoli infection; however he suddenly becomes paralyzed. They believe that he could have a neuroendocrine tumor, but find nothing. His kidneys begin failing as well. House believes it could be hepatitis C and he gives him interferon, which doesn't work. They decide to try an experimental treatment of giving him hepatitis A to cure his hepatitis C.
Diagnosed Disease: Hepatitis C - Contagious liver disease caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV) that presents with mild to severe liver damage and scarring.
SymptomsMany cases are asymptomatic; however, can include fever, fatigue, nausea, jaundice, brown urine, abdominal pain.
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CausesCaused by HCV and transmitted through bodily fluids
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TestsBlood tests are ordered to check for infection. Antibody levels for HCV are used as an indicator.
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Treatment/CureAbout 15% of times, the virus will clear on its own; however, interferon and other anti-viral medications are used to treat acute and chronic infections.
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Source Links: CDC
Episode 7 - A Pox on Our House
Brief Plot Summary
While diving a girl brings up an old jar from a dutch slave ship which explodes in her hand, exposing her to what everyone believes to be smallpox. Tests for measles and varicella come up negative. House believes she has smallpox until he finds a normal rash under her arm. With the CDC called to site, House has limited access to the patient even though he believes the patient doesn't have smallpox. House asks a dutch stripper to translate the ship captain's diary log. The dad then begins to have a headache and profuse nose-bleed. They believe it could be tuberculosis. With itchy white pustules developing on the dad, House agrees it is small pox. Masters points out that a lack of pustules on the palms of her hands and feet indicate she doesn't have small pox. They believe that the vaccine they gave them made them sick. House enters the room and administers interferon to the dad believing that he was immunocompromised from a relapse of kidney cancer. He appears to be wrong as the small pox progresses. Masters finally realizes that the cat on the ship shed all of its fur before it died indicating that it's rickettsialpox.
While diving a girl brings up an old jar from a dutch slave ship which explodes in her hand, exposing her to what everyone believes to be smallpox. Tests for measles and varicella come up negative. House believes she has smallpox until he finds a normal rash under her arm. With the CDC called to site, House has limited access to the patient even though he believes the patient doesn't have smallpox. House asks a dutch stripper to translate the ship captain's diary log. The dad then begins to have a headache and profuse nose-bleed. They believe it could be tuberculosis. With itchy white pustules developing on the dad, House agrees it is small pox. Masters points out that a lack of pustules on the palms of her hands and feet indicate she doesn't have small pox. They believe that the vaccine they gave them made them sick. House enters the room and administers interferon to the dad believing that he was immunocompromised from a relapse of kidney cancer. He appears to be wrong as the small pox progresses. Masters finally realizes that the cat on the ship shed all of its fur before it died indicating that it's rickettsialpox.
Diagnosed Disease: Rickettsialpox - Bacterial infection caused by rickettsiae transmitted by mite bites leading to a systemic papulovesicular rash.
SymptomsFever, eschar (unique symptom), rash, legions, cold sweat, chills, headaches
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CausesMite bites transmit the gram-negative coccobacterium, rickettsiae.
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TestsEschar are present in 95% of cases. Bacterial culture.
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Treatment/CureDoxycycline is used to treat the condition as it is the most effective antibiotic available for this condition.
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Source Links: Medscape
Episode 8 - Small Sacrifices
Brief Plot Summary
A man comes in with puncture wounds on his hands from re-enacting a crucifixion and hemoptysis. He does this because he has made a deal with god to keep his daughter alive. They believe it could be an infection; however, the tests for parasites and bacteria come up negative. The patient's tooth falls out, so they search his home for possible heavy metal poisoning but find that he is malnourished. They think it could be a horse virus infection. He then begins to have excruciating pain in his legs but smiles while saying so, a sign of pseudobulbar affect. With the new symptom, they think it could be a neurologic problem and order an MRI which shows legions, which could indicate marburg's multiple sclerosis. They want to start him on an experimental stem cell treatment but he refuses for religious reasons. House tells him that his daughter still has cancer after running a PET scan and the patient agrees to taking the treatment.
A man comes in with puncture wounds on his hands from re-enacting a crucifixion and hemoptysis. He does this because he has made a deal with god to keep his daughter alive. They believe it could be an infection; however, the tests for parasites and bacteria come up negative. The patient's tooth falls out, so they search his home for possible heavy metal poisoning but find that he is malnourished. They think it could be a horse virus infection. He then begins to have excruciating pain in his legs but smiles while saying so, a sign of pseudobulbar affect. With the new symptom, they think it could be a neurologic problem and order an MRI which shows legions, which could indicate marburg's multiple sclerosis. They want to start him on an experimental stem cell treatment but he refuses for religious reasons. House tells him that his daughter still has cancer after running a PET scan and the patient agrees to taking the treatment.
Diagnosed Disease: Marburg's Multiple Sclerosis - An acute fulminant type of multiple sclerosis
SymptomsParalysis, impaired movement, loss of sensitivity, muscle weakness, chronic pain, problems with speech and swallowing, etc.
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CausesGenetic factors and environmental triggers; however, exact etiology remains unknown
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TestsAn MRI will usually show a single legion much like an abscess or cyst. A fast progression and unresponsiveness to MS treatment could indicate this type.
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Treatment/CureNo cure is available, but the disease does respond to stem cell treatment and a few drugs.
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Source Links: Wiki