presymptomatic
Infected but asymptomatic
Presymptomatic describes the period after infection or disease onset but before symptoms appear.
A presymptomatic person carries a condition that will eventually produce symptoms, distinguishing the term from asymptomatic, where symptoms never develop.
Presymptomatic transmission made the virus difficult to contain.
The word became widely known during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Development before emergence
- latentPresent but inactive
- subclinicalBelow symptom detection level
- silentProducing no sound
- dormantInactive but capable
inapparent · hidden · prodromal · quiescent · carrier · covert · unmanifested · preclinical
Evaluative selection process
- biomarkersMeasurable disease indicators
- genetic testingAnalysis for inherited disorders
- early detectionFinding something at onset
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
monitoring · risk assessment · baseline · diagnostic · prognostic · checkup · bloodwork · imaging
Permanent DNA alteration
- hereditaryPassed through generations
- carrierOne that transports
- familialPertaining to relatives
- inheritedReceived from forebears
predisposition · susceptibility · genomic · anticipation · penetrance · BRCA · Huntington · germline
Measure preventing disease or harm
- preventiveMeant to stop trouble
- interventionPurposeful involvement to change course
- risk reductionLessening of potential harm
- lifestyle modificationAdjusting personal habits deliberately
chemoprevention · mitigation · preemptive · protective · wellness · proactive · counseling
incubation
Development before emergence
- latentPresent but inactive
- subclinicalBelow symptom detection level
- silentProducing no sound
dormant · inapparent · hidden · prodromal · quiescent · carrier · covert · unmanifested · preclinical · undeclared
screening
Evaluative selection process
- biomarkersMeasurable disease indicators
- genetic testingAnalysis for inherited disorders
- early detectionFinding something at onset
surveillance · monitoring · risk assessment · baseline · diagnostic · prognostic · checkup · bloodwork · imaging · indicators
mutation
Permanent DNA alteration
- hereditaryPassed through generations
- carrierOne that transports
- familialPertaining to relatives
inherited · predisposition · susceptibility · genomic · anticipation · penetrance · BRCA · Huntington · germline · polygenic
prophylactic
Measure preventing disease or harm
- preventiveMeant to stop trouble
- interventionPurposeful involvement to change course
- risk reductionLessening of potential harm
lifestyle modification · chemoprevention · mitigation · preemptive · protective · wellness · proactive · counseling
presymptomaticsymptomatic
Showing signs of disease
postsymptomatic · late-stage · terminal · convalescent · full-blown
presymptomatichealthy
In good physical condition
disease-free · unaffected · uninfected · negative · clear
symptom, asymptomatic, symptoms, symptomatic, symptomatically, symptomless, symptomatology