Latent

Latent (from Latin latens - hidden), a term used to define a hidden pathological process, disease without visible symptoms, etc. - At autopsy, marked changes in organs and systems are often found, which apparently existed for quite a long time in the subject's life without manifesting themselves. For example, defects of heart valves may remain unrecognized for many years due to the developing hypertrophy of the heart muscle fully compensating for the adverse effect of the defect on blood circulation. Hereditary traits can also be latent, i.e., being inherited, they do not manifest immediately after birth, but for a more or less long time remain in a hidden state, and then suddenly develop with age. In the field of infectious diseases, particularly many examples of latency are found: bacteria, having entered the body and being quite viable and virulent, for some time (sometimes very long) do not manifest their pathogenic effect. Among other things, the incubation period of infection can also be included here. In other cases, the microbe, having caused the corresponding infectious process, after the subsidence of the latter, remains in the body and does not reveal its presence by any symptoms of disease. After some time, however, for various reasons, symptoms of infection may again appear. This kind of latency is often encountered in tuberculosis, syphilis, malaria and some other infectious diseases.