The Great Chicago Med Tuberculosis Caper: How April Got Bit By the TB Bug (and Somehow Kept Her Job)
Let's face it, folks, season one of Chicago Med wasn't exactly sunshine and rainbows. We all know Dr. Will Halstead had more drama than a Kardashian family reunion, but spare a thought for our favorite nurse, April Sexton. Girl went from zero to hero to... diagnosed with tuberculosis? Hold the phone, Chicago. How on earth did that happen?
Theory #1: The Case of the Coughing Commute
Chicago winters are brutal. Maybe April just got a really bad case of the sniffles that morphed into something more sinister on the ever-so-charmingly crowded Chicago L train. Imagine the scene: April, bundled up like a mummy, surrounded by fellow passengers hacking up a lung. One particularly enthusiastic cougher lets loose a biohazard mist in her direction, and bam! Instant TB.
Why it's funny (and slightly concerning): This theory paints a hilariously relatable picture of Chicago's public transportation system. Who hasn't held their breath for dear life on a packed train, praying to avoid the next walking petri dish?
Why it's unlikely: Okay, so maybe not the most likely scenario. Hospitals tend to be pretty good about screening for TB, and let's be real, April seems pretty health-conscious.
Theory #2: The Mystery Patient
Nurses deal with all sorts of characters in the ER. Maybe April came into contact with an undiagnosed TB patient (cue dramatic music). This shadowy figure, shrouded in secrecy (and a cough mask, probably), passed on their delightful bacterial souvenir.
Why it's funny: This injects a bit of medical drama into the situation. We can practically imagine the montage: April diligently caring for Patient X, oblivious to the lurking danger. Dun dun DUNNNNN!
Why it's unlikely: Again, hospitals have protocols. Surely, someone would have noticed Super Spreader McGee.
The Truth is Out There (Somewhere)
The writers never officially revealed how April contracted TB. Maybe it was a rogue squirrel with a particularly nasty cough. Maybe it was a bio-engineered super-TB that thrives on the Windy City's hot dog fumes. The world may never know.
One thing's for sure: April's TB diagnosis threw a curveball at season one. But hey, at least it gave us some medical mystery to ponder, right? And who can resist a good medical mystery (especially one that involves a sassy nurse and a stubborn infection)?
