Can white blood cells “lose” to a germ in “combat”?

Question

I have heard infection talked about like a tiny war but do the germs attack and kill the white blood cells? Do they fight back?

In: 4

Answer 1

HIV attacks and kills a specific type of white blood cell called CD4+. And there are other pathogens that will attack bone marrow to reduce the bodies ability to produce an immune response. Most others just win by sheer overwhelming numbers or system wide organ shutdown (through toxins or organ damage).