Also known as: Tear in the aorta
Mentioned briefly in the ER as a competing case but not the focus of the episode.
Also known as: Taste distortion
Main patient Jeff experiences everything tasting like lemon meringue pie, which is a key symptom that leads to the diagnostic investigation throughout the episode.
Also known as: Fainting
Jeff has multiple fainting spells that drive the initial concern and are explained as part of his underlying parasitic infection.
Also known as: Brain attack
Jeff suffers a stroke during the episode which prompts urgent investigation and becomes a critical turning point in the diagnosis.
Also known as: High calcium levels
Hypothesized as underlying condition masked by hydrofluoric acid exposure from his carpet cleaning job, though this theory is later revised.
House initially suspects Williams syndrome as explaining Jeff's extreme niceness, but patient tests negative for this genetic condition.
Also known as: Tertiary syphilis affecting the brain
Positive syphilis test drives significant plot about patient's fidelity and marriage. Team treats him with penicillin, though the diagnosis is later reinterpreted as false positive from Chagas disease.
Also known as: GI bleed
Jeff begins vomiting blood which prompts investigation of liver damage and other complications from treatment.
Also known as: Liver inflammation
Non-viral hepatitis develops as complication, treated with steroids. Team investigates sarcoidosis and other causes before determining true etiology.
Also known as: Heart attack
Jeff suffers a heart attack after becoming aggressive, which is another critical complication that helps narrow the diagnosis.
Final diagnosis: parasitic infection acquired in Costa Rica causing chronic encephalitis that altered patient's personality (causing extreme niceness), explains false positive syphilis test, and all other symptoms. Treatment begins with antiparasitic medication.
Also known as: Brain inflammation
Caused by Chagas disease parasites, the brain inflammation altered Jeff's personality over 10+ years, making him abnormally nice. Revealed on follow-up MRI after steroids compromised immune system.