What is the term for having a disease but showing no signs of infection?

The term used to describe a situation where an individual has a disease but displays no signs of infection is "asymptomatic." This term specifically refers to individuals who carry a disease, such as a virus or bacteria, but do not exhibit any symptoms typically associated with that infection. This can complicate the identification and management of diseases, as asymptomatic individuals can still transmit infections to others without being aware that they are infected.

For example, many people with viral infections may not show symptoms but can still spread the virus to others, making it critical in public health contexts to understand the importance of asymptomatic carriers in the transmission of infectious diseases.

While "subclinical" can sometimes be used interchangeably with "asymptomatic," it tends to refer to cases where there are minor, non-specific signs of the disease that are not overtly recognizable. "Latent" usually describes a situation where an infection is present but remains inactive and does not cause symptoms, such as in the case of latent tuberculosis. "Acute" refers to the sudden onset of a disease with severe symptoms, which does not apply to situations where signs of infection are absent.