This phase may be very complicated for some illnesses. An individual may recover but become a carrier. In this case, the host becomes unaware of the pathogen but it continues to reproduce and is shed in fecal material or respiratory discharges. Other carriers have recurrent outbreaks throughout their lives. Patients recover fully.
Patients suffer long-term damage from the infection.
Suprisingly, hospitals are a major factor in bacterial pathology. Harmless pathogens in normal individuals become exceedingly dangerous for many patients. Don't kill virus but activate host responses. Used as a drug to treat viral infections. Cascade of proteins that work to destroy invading microorganisms.