Question

By definition, an infection results from a parasitic relationship between a microbe and its host.  That is, harm is being done to the host. Inapparent infection (also called subclinical, or asymptomatic infection) does not result in overt disease.

How is it possible for an infection not to result in overt disease?

Answer 1

Sub clinical infections: in which the individual do not show any specific symptoms ( asymptomatic) but they carry the respective infection .

The infection may not be observable some times the infection may not be destined to be a clinical disease

The host and parasitic factors are responsible for the infection to become a clinical one or subclinical one

Subclinical infections are happen when there is true tissue invasion of the infectious agent,possible multiplication but fails to produce significant pathological damage in the host

But the infectious agent elicit an immunological response, body produces antibodies against that agent

Example: a young man is infected by sexually transmitted disease like Chlamydia experiencing symptoms like pain during urination. In other hand an young woman may not have the apprentice symptoms. In this case the woman will be carrier with out exhibiting symptoms the woman only comes to know with screening of that particular infection

There are not only subclinical infections but there are conditions which are subclinical example subclinical hypothyroidism where the patients thyroid hormones T3 T4 show normal values but the TSH levels might be slightly elevated..