Also known as: Fear of public places
The patient's severe agoraphobia prevents him from leaving his house for seven years following a traumatic shooting. This condition creates the central medical challenge of diagnosing and treating him without bringing him to the hospital, driving the entire episode's plot.
Also known as: PTSD
Initially suspected as the cause of the patient's agoraphobia following being shot and losing his girlfriend seven years ago. However, the patient reveals he had anxiety issues predating the trauma, though the PTSD likely exacerbated his condition.
Also known as: Seizure
The patient presents with three seizures in two days, which becomes the initial medical mystery. Eventually revealed to be caused by lead poisoning from retained bullet fragments.
Also known as: Blocked intestine
The patient develops severe abdominal pain from a partial small bowel obstruction, requiring surgical intervention. This complication forces the team to perform surgery in his home to avoid triggering his agoraphobia.
Also known as: Lead toxicity
The final diagnosis reveals that retained bullet fragments from his shooting seven years ago had begun dissolving, causing chronic lead poisoning. This explains all his symptoms including seizures, bowel obstruction, peripheral neuropathy, and cardiac issues.
Also known as: Nerve damage, numbness
The patient develops numbness in his legs while on antibiotics for suspected Whipple's disease. This new symptom helps the team rule out previous diagnoses and points toward the eventual diagnosis of lead poisoning.
Also known as: Abnormal EKG
The patient suffers cardiac arrest with pulseless electrical activity (PEA), requiring CPR and defibrillation. After resuscitation, he develops bradycardia requiring a temporary pacemaker. This cardiac complication is ultimately caused by lead poisoning.
Also known as: Delusional infestation
Wilson diagnoses House with delusional parasitosis after House obsessively scratches what he believes is a mosquito bite into a suppurating wound. Wilson suggests this is psychosomatic, representing House's avoidance of addressing his feelings about kissing Cuddy.