asymptomatic adj : having no symptoms of illness or disease [syn: symptomless]

English

Adjective

asymptomatic

1. Not exhibiting any symptoms of disease.

Synonyms

• symptomless

Derived terms

• asymptomatically

Translations

• Dutch: asymptomatisch
• French: asymptomatique
• Turkish: asemptomatik

In medicine, a disease is asymptomatic while the patient does not experience any noticeable symptoms. Asymptomatic diseases may not be discovered until the patient undergoes medical tests (X-rays or other investigations). Some diseases 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.

See also

• Symptomatic