Immune deficiency and infections in children having cancer]

Childhood cancer and its treatment weaken the immune defenses and predispose the patient to infections. The recovery of immune defences depends on the provided cancer therapy and associated complications such as the graft-versus-host reaction. Recovery takes place gradually and the spectrum of infections suffered by the patient reflects the different stages of restoration of the immune defenses. Bacterial and fungal infections dominate the early, neutropenic phase, viral infections being predominant during the later lymphocytopenic phase. In the follow-up it is essential to recognize the risk factors, to observe the recuperation of the immune system and to treat the complications.