Immunodeficiency in children

Immunodeficiency is a pathological clinical state in which there is an impairment of the immune system’s ability to protect the body from infection. It is subdivided into primary and secondary causes. Immunodeficiency invariably leads to increased susceptibility to infectious disease, typically causing severe, prolonged, unusual or recurrent infections. In addition to increased risk of infectious disease, patients with certain immunodeficiencies will have increased risk of autoimmune disease and malignancy.