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curative care

By , About.com Guide

Updated April 15, 2008

Definition: Curative care refers to treatment and therapies provided to a patient with an intent to improve symptoms and cure the patient's medical problem. Antibiotics, chemotherapy, a cast for a broken limb -- these are examples of curative care.

The term is often used in contrast with "palliative care," which is a treatment or therapy that does not aim to cure the patient.

Examples:
Justine was given oral antibiotics to cure her bacterial infection.

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