What are the causes and symptoms of chronic granulomatous disease?
The genetic defect that causes CGD reduces the amount of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide that white blood cells can make. These chemicals are important for killing bacteria and fungi. Without them the white blood cells ingest the microorganisms, but can’t kill them. In some cases, the microbes then replicate inside the white blood cell eventually causing its death. Symptoms of the disease usually appear by age two. Frequent, recurrent infections of the skin, lungs (e.g. pneumonia), mouth (e.g. gingivitis), nose, intestines and lymph nodes are a hallmark of this disease. Patients may also develop multiple, recurrent liver abscesses and bone infections (osteomyelitis). Source: The Gale Group. Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed.
