immunodeficiency
Immunodeficiency Immunodeficiency is a failure, insufficiency, or delay in the response of the immune system, which may be acquired or inherited. Immunodeficiency can allow pathogens or tumor cells to gain a foothold and replicate or proliferate to high enough levels so that the immune system becomes overwhelmed. Immunodeficiency can be acquired as a result of infection with certain pathogens that attack the cells of the immune system itself such as HIV , chemical exposure including certain medical treatments such as chemotherapy , malnutrition, or extreme stress. For instance, radiation exposure can destroy populations of lymphocytes and elevate an individuals susceptibility to infections and cancer. Rarely, primary immunodeficiencies that are present from birth may also occur. For example, severe combined immunodeficiency disease SCID is a condition in which children are born without functioning B or T cells.