curatif

Curatif is a term used primarily in French medical language to describe treatments, substances, or approaches aimed at curing a disease or restoring health. It derives from the broader concept of cure and is the counterpart to preventive and palliative aims. In French, the expression traitement curatif refers to an intervention intended to remove the disease or achieve a lasting remission, and it is often contrasted with traitement préventif (preventive) and traitement palliatif (palliative). In English-language medical writing, the standard term is curative or curative therapy.

In practice, curative therapies seek to eliminate the illness or provide durable recovery. Examples include surgical resection of localized tumors, antibiotics for bacterial infections, antiviral regimens in specific infections, and radiotherapy or chemotherapy used with curative intent in cancer. The availability and appropriateness of curative options depend on the disease type, stage, patient health, and a balance of benefits and risks. It is important to note that not all conditions have curative treatments; many interventions are palliative, aimed at relieving symptoms or improving quality of life, while others are preventive, aiming to stop disease from occurring.

In clinical guidelines and research, the term curative is used with careful qualification and evidence, such as durable disease-free survival or complete remission. In everyday usage, curatif may appear in bilingual or French-language contexts and is generally understood to mean an approach designed to cure rather than merely alleviate symptoms.