Which of the following statements about the development of infectious diseases is correct?

• A. The convalescent period is when the pathogen is most actively multiplying.
• B. During the acute phase, symptoms are absent.
• C. The incubation period is the time between exposure to the pathogen and the appearance of symptoms.
• D. The prodromal period occurs after the convalescent phase.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the key phases in the development of infectious diseases. These typically include the incubation period, prodromal period, acute phase, and convalescent period.
2. Step 2: Define the incubation period as the time between exposure to the pathogen and the appearance of the first symptoms. This is a symptom-free phase where the pathogen is multiplying but symptoms have not yet appeared.
3. Step 3: Recognize that the prodromal period is the early stage of symptoms, usually mild and nonspecific, occurring after the incubation period but before the acute phase.
4. Step 4: Identify the acute phase as the period when symptoms are most severe and the pathogen is actively multiplying, causing the most damage.
5. Step 5: Understand that the convalescent period follows the acute phase and is characterized by recovery and repair, with symptoms declining and the pathogen being cleared.