Some bacteria and fungi generate their own hydrogen peroxide, which phagocytes can use to kill the micorbes themselves. Other invaders quickly destroy any hydrogen peroxide they produce so that scavenger cells cannot do their job. This latter group of microorganisms, which includes common bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, and Pseudomonas, and fungi such as Aspergillus, causes many of the troublesome infections in CGD patients.
Although these bacteria and fungi can cause infections virtually anywhere in the body, they most often target the lungs, lymph nodes, skin, the lungs, lymph nodes, skin, liver, gastointestinal tract, nostrils, mouth, or bones in the arms and legs.
Common signs and symptoms of these infections are diarrhea, boils (frequently in the nostrils), oozing or scaly skin and scalp rashes, canker sores, gum disease, sores near the anus, local areas of pain and tenderness, swollen lymph nodes, fever, persistent cough, and nutritional deficiencies stemming from malabsorption.
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Public Health Service
National Institute of Health
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Division of Intramural Research
Prepared by the NIAID
Office of Communications
