Final answer:
The stage of disease where general signs and symptoms first appear is known as the prodromal period, following the asymptomatic incubation period where the pathogen multiplies.b) Prodromal period
Step-by-step explanation:
The stage of disease during which the patient begins to present general signs and symptoms is called the prodromal period. This is the phase that occurs after the incubation period, which is a time when the pathogen multiplies but has not yet caused noticeable symptoms. During the prodromal period, nonspecific signs and symptoms such as fever, pain, soreness, swelling, or inflammation become observable, indicating that the immune system has been activated but the symptoms are still too general to diagnose a specific disease.