asymptomatique

Asymptomatique is a medical term used to describe a person who does not exhibit symptoms of a disease despite being infected or having a condition. The term can refer to an infection that remains clinically silent, or to a disease state that never develops noticeable signs. It is distinct from presymptomatic, which describes a stage when symptoms have not yet appeared but are expected to later.

In infectious diseases, asymptomatic infections occur when the pathogen is present but causes no noticeable illness. Such individuals can still transmit pathogens, complicating surveillance and control efforts. Historical or well-known examples include asymptomatic carriers of Salmonella typhi, and more recently many people with SARS-CoV-2 infections who never develop symptoms. In chronic disease, conditions such as essential hypertension or dyslipidemia may be asymptomatic until complications arise.

Because asymptomatic disease lacks self-reported signs, diagnosis relies on screening or incidental findings. Laboratory tests, imaging, or routine surveillance can reveal infections or pathology in the absence of symptoms. Public health programs often use targeted testing in high-risk settings or among contacts of confirmed cases to identify asymptomatic individuals.

Etymology and usage: the word derives from the French symptôme plus a- (without) and the adjective suffix -atique, forming a term that denotes absence of symptoms. In clinical contexts, distinguishing asymptomatic from presymptomatic or subclinical states helps guide prognosis and intervention.