Congenital defects of phagocytes

Abstract Susceptibility to infection from phagocytic dysfunction ranges from mild and recurrent skin infections to overwhelming, fatal systemic infection. Affected patients are more susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections but have normal resistance to viral infections. Most cases are diagnosed in infancy due to the severity of the infection or the unusual presentation of the organism, but some escape diagnosis until adulthood. In this chapter we have provided a practical guideline to approach patients with phagocyte defects.