What is latent infection?

A latent infection refers to a situation where pathogens remain in the body in an inactive or dormant state, allowing them to evade the immune system while not causing any symptoms or making the individual ill. This persistently inactive condition can be reactivated, leading to the return of symptoms and illness later on. A classic example is the varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox during the initial infection but can remain dormant and reactivate years later to cause shingles.

While the other options describe different types of infections, they do not depict the specific characteristic of latency. An infection that clears quickly without symptoms does not imply the presence of dormant pathogens. A chronic infection with mild symptoms indicates ongoing activity of the pathogen, rather than inactivity. Similarly, a newly developed infection that spreads rapidly suggests active replication of infectious agents, which contrasts with the concept of latency. Thus, understanding latent infections is essential for recognizing how certain diseases can remain hidden in the body for long periods before reemerging.