Which term describes individuals who exhibit no symptoms of infection but can spread the disease?

Which term describes individuals who exhibit no symptoms of infection but can spread the disease?

• A. Carrier
• B. Subclinical case
• C. Endogenous infection
• D. Exogenous infection

Answer: (A)

Asymptomatic yet contagious individuals are described as carriers. A carrier harbors the infectious agent without showing symptoms and can shed and transmit the pathogen to others, sustaining transmission even when the person feels well. This makes the idea of carriers central to understanding how diseases persist in a population. A subclinical case also means no symptoms, but it doesn’t inherently specify contagiousness; some infections may spread, others may not, depending on the pathogen. Endogenous infection refers to an infection arising from organisms that normally live inside the body, not about symptom status or contagiousness. Exogenous infection means infection acquired from an external source, again not about being asymptomatic or contagious.

Asymptomatic yet contagious individuals are described as carriers. A carrier harbors the infectious agent without showing symptoms and can shed and transmit the pathogen to others, sustaining transmission even when the person feels well. This makes the idea of carriers central to understanding how diseases persist in a population.

A subclinical case also means no symptoms, but it doesn’t inherently specify contagiousness; some infections may spread, others may not, depending on the pathogen. Endogenous infection refers to an infection arising from organisms that normally live inside the body, not about symptom status or contagiousness. Exogenous infection means infection acquired from an external source, again not about being asymptomatic or contagious.