Also known as: Heavy metal poisoning from gold arthritis medication
Bob, a wedding photographer, presents with progressive respiratory distress, tongue swelling, lung scarring, kidney failure, and cardiac arrest. His wife has been secretly poisoning him with gold sodium thiomalate (an arthritis medication popular in Mexico) by sprinkling it on his cereal. The team initially considers lupus, food allergies, and other heavy metals before House discovers gold traces on the wife's hands.
Also known as: Genital herpes
House diagnoses Mr. Lambert with herpes in a clinic case. House initially suggests the wife may be having an affair with their daughter's karate instructor, creating marital conflict. House eventually reveals that herpes can theoretically be transmitted via toilet seats, though this subplot primarily serves to parallel the main case's theme about marriage and trust.