Chronic granulomatous disease of childhood.

Two boys and one girl suffering from recurrent severe bacterial infections were investigated. All 3 exhibited normal cellular and humoral immunity, normal neutrophil phagocytic ability, and defective neutrophil bacterial capacity. The clinical features and laboratory findings in these patients are diagnostic of chronic granulomatous disease. A sex-linked inheritance pattern was confirmed in 1 patient by the demonstration of a heterozygous carrier state in the mother.