👉 Off-infection, also known as subclinical infection, refers to an infection that occurs without overt symptoms in the host. During this phase, the pathogen is present within the body but does not manifest any noticeable signs of illness, such as fever, fatigue, or rash. The immune system may still be actively combating the infection, but the individual remains asymptomatic. This can make off-infection challenging to detect through routine clinical symptoms alone, often requiring diagnostic tests like blood cultures, PCR, or imaging to identify the presence of the pathogen. Off-infections are common in many infectious diseases and can serve as a reservoir for the pathogen, potentially leading to reinfection or transmission to others before symptoms appear.
