Asymptomatic
Asymptomatic
Asymptomatic (pronunciation: /ˌeɪsɪmptəˈmatɪk/) refers to the condition of being without any noticeable symptoms despite the presence of an infectious disease.
Etymology
The term "asymptomatic" is derived from the Greek word "symptoma," which means "an occurrence," and the prefix "a-," which means "without." Thus, "asymptomatic" literally means "without occurrence," referring to the absence of symptoms.
Definition
An infectious disease is said to be asymptomatic if a person is a carrier for a disease or infection but experiences no symptoms. Not to be confused with clinical latency, where a person may not experience symptoms for a period of time, asymptomatic individuals never show symptoms.
Related Terms
- Symptomatic: Showing symptoms of a disease.
- Presymptomatic: The period when a disease is present but symptoms have not yet developed.
- Subclinical infection: An infection that is nearly or completely asymptomatic.
- Infection: The invasion of an organism's body tissues by disease-causing agents.
- Disease: A particular abnormal condition that negatively affects the structure or function of all or part of an organism.
Importance in Public Health
Asymptomatic individuals play a crucial role in the spread of diseases, as they may unknowingly infect others. This is particularly relevant in the context of diseases such as COVID-19, where a significant proportion of carriers are asymptomatic.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Asymptomatic
- Wikipedia's article - Asymptomatic
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