Chronic granulomatous disease of childhood: differential diagnosis and prognosis

Of a total of 111 children with primary immunodeficiency, 20 had phagocytic disorders (18 per cent) and 10 of them (8 boys and 2 girls) were diagnosed as chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). The children presented with repeated infections already during the first months of life. The main clinical findings were: abscess (n=8), otitis (n=8), pneumonia (n=8), lymphadenitis and pyodermits (n=6) and septicemia (4), NBT reduction was almost absent in all the children, except one of them. Bactericidal activity against S. aureus and phagocytosis were impaired in CGD patients. Different patterns of laboratory tests and prognosis were observed and girls had a better evolution