Subclinical infection

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Subclinical Infection

Subclinical infection (pronunciation: /sʌbˈklɪnɪkəl ɪnˈfɛkʃən/), also known as asymptomatic infection or inapparent infection, is a type of infection that does not show obvious symptoms or signs.

Etymology

The term "subclinical" is derived from the Latin prefix "sub-" meaning "under" or "below", and "clinical" from the Greek "klinike" meaning "bed", referring to the practice of treating patients. Thus, a "subclinical" infection is one that is "below" the level of detection in a clinical setting.

Definition

A subclinical infection is an infection that stays below the surface, not causing any noticeable or typical signs of being present. This type of infection is particularly challenging to diagnose because the lack of symptoms means it often goes unnoticed and untreated. Despite the absence of symptoms, individuals with a subclinical infection can still spread the pathogen to others.

Related Terms

  • Carrier: An individual who harbors the infectious agent of a disease without showing symptoms and serves as a potential source of infection for others.
  • Latent infection: A type of infection in which the pathogen remains inactive in the host for a period before becoming active.
  • Incubation period: The time between exposure to an infectious agent and the appearance of symptoms of the infection.
  • Viral shedding: The expulsion and release of virus progeny following successful reproduction during a host-cell infection.

See Also

External links

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