Why does aplastic anemia increase susceptibility to opportunistic infections more than iron deficiency anemia?

💡 Explanation

Aplastic anemia involves pancytopenia, meaning all blood cell lineages are reduced. Because this includes leukocytes critical for immune defense, the body's ability to fight infections is severely compromised; therefore, aplastic anemia causes more profound immune deficiency than iron deficiency anemia, rather than just affecting red blood cells.

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