Asymptomatic

It has been suggested that Sub-clinical be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)

Pulmonary contusion due to trauma is an example of a condition that can be asymptomatic with half of people showing no signs at the initial presentation since such symptoms can take time to develop. The CT scan show a pulmonary contusion (red arrow) accompanied by a rib fracture (blue arrow).

In medicine, a disease is asymptomatic if a patient carries a disease or infection but experiences no symptoms. A condition might be asymptomatic if it fails to show the noticeable symptoms with which it is usually associated. Asymptomatic infections are also called subclinical infections. The term clinically silent is also used.

Knowing that a condition is asymptomatic is important since

• It may develop symptoms later so require watch and wait or early treatment
• Reassurance that it might resolve itself or is benign.
• Requiring that a person takes treatment so it does not cause later clinical problem such as with high blood pressure and hyperlipidaemia.^[1]
• Be alert to possible problems: asymptomatic hypothyroidism makes a person vulnerable to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome or beri-beri following intravenous glucose.^[2]

Infections

Asymptomatic infections are important since a person might be infectious and so can spread the infection to others.

Conditions

Asymptomatic conditions may not be discovered until the patient undergoes medical tests (X-rays or other investigations). Some remain asymptomatic for a remarkably long time, including some forms of cancer. If a patient is asymptomatic, precautionary steps must be taken.

A patient's individual genetic makeup may delay or prevent the onset of symptoms.

List

These are conditions for which at least sufficient individuals exist that are asymptomatic that it is clinically noted. For list of asymptomatic infections see subclinical infection

References

See also

• Symptomatic
• Subclinical infection