Which term describes a condition in which the body's immune protection is weakened or impaired?

Which term describes a condition in which the body's immune protection is weakened or impaired?

• A. Infected
• B. Immunocompetent
• C. Susceptible
• D. Immunocompromised

Answer: (D)

Weakened or impaired immune protection describes being immunocompromised. This term means the body's defenses don’t function at full strength, making it harder to fight infections and increasing the risk for both common and unusual infections. Causes can include cancer therapies or organ transplant medications that suppress the immune system, chronic diseases like HIV, aging, or malnutrition. This differs from being immunocompetent, which means the immune system is functioning normally. It also differs from being susceptible, which refers to the likelihood of getting an infection, not the actual state of immune protection. And being infected simply means an infection is present, not necessarily that the immune system is compromised.

Weakened or impaired immune protection describes being immunocompromised. This term means the body's defenses don’t function at full strength, making it harder to fight infections and increasing the risk for both common and unusual infections. Causes can include cancer therapies or organ transplant medications that suppress the immune system, chronic diseases like HIV, aging, or malnutrition. This differs from being immunocompetent, which means the immune system is functioning normally. It also differs from being susceptible, which refers to the likelihood of getting an infection, not the actual state of immune protection. And being infected simply means an infection is present, not necessarily that the immune system is compromised.