Treat vs. Cure — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 4, 2024
Treat focuses on managing symptoms and improving quality of life; cure aims to completely eliminate the disease and its cause.
Difference Between Treat and Cure
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Treatment typically involves ongoing efforts to alleviate symptoms and prevent disease progression, using medication, lifestyle adjustments, or therapy. On the other hand, a cure represents a complete resolution of a disease, leaving no lingering symptoms or need for further treatment.
Treatments may require consistent application over time to maintain health, whereas a cure is often a one-time intervention.
Treatments can vary widely based on the condition and individual needs, while a cure is usually a specific solution applicable to all cases of a disease.
In many chronic conditions, treatment is the only option, as a cure may not yet exist. Conversely, for some infectious diseases, a cure can be achieved through medication or other therapeutic interventions.
Comparison Chart
Objective
To manage symptoms and prevent progression of disease.
To completely eliminate the disease and its root cause.
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Duration
Often ongoing, sometimes lifelong.
Typically finite, aiming for permanent resolution.
Approach
May involve medication, therapy, lifestyle changes.
Involves treatments that eradicate the disease.
Application
Specific to individual’s condition and needs.
Universal, aiming to resolve the condition in all affected.
Outcome
Improvement in quality of life and symptom management.
Total eradication of the disease.
Compare with Definitions
Treat
Using lifestyle changes to mitigate disease effects.
Diabetic patients treat their condition by altering their diet.
Cure
Use of surgical procedures to remove disease causes.
The surgery cured her of the benign tumor.
Treat
Intervention aimed at stabilizing chronic diseases.
Insulin treatments manage diabetes symptoms effectively.
Cure
Permanent resolution of a medical condition.
The innovative gene therapy cured the genetic disorder.
Treat
Managing symptoms through medical care.
Doctors treat arthritis with anti-inflammatory drugs.
Cure
Application of therapies that eradicate pathogens.
Antibiotics cure bacterial infections by killing bacteria.
Treat
Application of therapies to improve a condition.
Physical therapy treats injuries by enhancing mobility.
Cure
Achieving disease remission without expected return.
The new treatment cured his cancer, with no signs of recurrence.
Treat
Provision of psychological support to ease mental disorders.
Counseling treats depression by providing emotional support.
Cure
Elimination of a disease through medical intervention.
The vaccine cured the patient of the viral infection.
Treat
To act or behave in a specified manner toward
Treated me fairly.
Cure
Relieve (a person or animal) of the symptoms of a disease or condition
He was cured of the disease
Treat
To regard and handle in a certain way. Often used with as
Treated the matter as a joke.
Cure
Preserve (meat, fish, tobacco, or an animal skin) by salting, drying, or smoking
Home-cured ham
Treat
To deal with in writing or speech; discuss
A book that treats all aspects of health care.
Cure
A parish priest in a French-speaking country.
Treat
To deal with or represent artistically in a specified manner or style
Treats the subject poetically.
Cure
A drug or course of medical treatment used to restore health
Discovered a new cure for ulcers.
Treat
To provide with food, entertainment, or gifts at one's own expense
Treated her sister to the theater.
Cure
Restoration of health; recovery from disease
The likelihood of cure.
Treat
To give (someone or oneself) something pleasurable
Treated herself to a day in the country.
Cure
Something that corrects or relieves a harmful or disturbing situation
The cats proved to be a good cure for our mouse problem.
Treat
To subject to a process, action, or change, especially to a chemical or physical process or application
Treated the cloth with bleach.
Cure
(Ecclesiastical) Spiritual charge or care, as of a priest for a congregation.
Treat
To give medical aid to (someone)
Treated many patients in the emergency room.
Cure
The office or duties of a curate.
Treat
To give medical aid to counteract (a disease or condition)
Treated malaria with quinine.
Cure
The act or process of preserving a product.
Treat
To deal with a subject or topic in writing or speech. Often used with of
The essay treats of courtly love.
Cure
A parish priest, especially in a French-speaking community.
Treat
To pay for another's entertainment, food, or drink.
Cure
To cause to be free of a disease or unhealthy condition
Medicine that cured the patient of gout.
Treat
To engage in negotiations, as to reach a settlement or agree on terms
"Both sides nonetheless are quite willing to treat with [the king]" (Gregory J. Wallance).
Cure
To cause to be free of, to lose interest in, or to stop doing something
A remark that cured me of the illusion that I might be a good singer.
A bad reaction that cured him of the desire to smoke cigars.
A visit to the dentist that cured her of eating sweets.
Treat
Something, such as one's food or entertainment, that is paid for by someone else.
Cure
To eliminate (a disease, for example) from the body by medical or other treatment; cause recovery from
New antibiotics to cure infections.
Treat
A source of a special delight or pleasure
His trip abroad was a real treat.
Cure
To remove or remedy (something harmful or disturbing)
Cure a social evil.
Treat
(intransitive) To negotiate, discuss terms, bargain (for or with).
Cure
To preserve (meat, for example), as by salting, smoking, or aging.
Treat
(intransitive) To discourse; to handle a subject in writing or speaking; to conduct a discussion.
Cicero's writing treats mainly of old age and personal duty.
Cure
To prepare, preserve, or finish (a substance) by a chemical or physical process.
Treat
(transitive) To discourse on; to represent or deal with in a particular way, in writing or speaking.
The article treated feminism as a quintessentially modern movement.
Cure
To vulcanize (rubber).
Treat
To entreat or beseech (someone).
Only let my family live, I treat thee.
Cure
To effect a cure or recovery
A drug that cures without side effects.
Treat
(transitive) To handle, deal with or behave towards in a specific way.
You treated me like a fool.
She was tempted to treat the whole affair as a joke.
Cure
To be prepared, preserved, or finished by a chemical or physical process
Hams curing in the smokehouse.
Treat
(transitive) To entertain with food or drink, especially at one's own expense; to show hospitality to; to pay for as celebration or reward.
I treated my son to some popcorn in the interval.
I've done so well this month, I'll treat you all to dinner (or Dinner is my treat.)
My husband treated me to a Paris holiday for our anniversary.
Cure
A method, device or medication that restores good health.
Treat
To commit the offence of providing food, drink, entertainment or provision to corruptly influence a voter.
Cure
Act of healing or state of being healed; restoration to health after a disease, or to soundness after injury.
Treat
(transitive) To care for medicinally or surgically; to apply medical care to.
They treated me for malaria.
Cure
(figurative) A solution to a problem.
Treat
(transitive) To subject to a chemical or other action; to act upon with a specific scientific result in mind.
He treated the substance with sulphuric acid.
I treated the photo somewhat to make the colours more pronounced.
Cure
A process of preservation, as by smoking.
Treat
To provide something special and pleasant.
Cure
A process of solidification or gelling.
Treat
An entertainment, outing, food, drink, or other indulgence provided by someone for the enjoyment of others.
I took the kids to the zoo for a treat.
Here are some healthy Halloween treats for ghouls and witches of all ages.
Cure
(engineering) A process whereby a material is caused to form permanent molecular linkages by exposure to chemicals, heat, pressure and/or weathering.
Treat
An unexpected gift, event etc., which provides great pleasure.
It was such a treat to see her back in action on the London stage.
Cure
(obsolete) Care, heed, or attention.
Treat
A snack food item designed to be given to pets.
I lured the cat into her carrier by throwing a couple of treats in there.
Cure
Spiritual charge; care of soul; the office of a parish priest or of a curate.
Treat
(obsolete) A parley or discussion of terms; a negotiation.
Cure
That which is committed to the charge of a parish priest or of a curate.
Treat
(obsolete) An entreaty.
Cure
(transitive) To restore to health.
Unaided nature cured him.
Treat
To handle; to manage; to use; to bear one's self toward; as, to treat prisoners cruelly; to treat children kindly.
Cure
(transitive) To bring (a disease or its bad effects) to an end.
Unaided nature cured his ailments.
Treat
To discourse on; to handle in a particular manner, in writing or speaking; as, to treat a subject diffusely.
Cure
(transitive) To cause to be rid of (a defect).
Experience will cure him of his naïveté.
Treat
To entertain with food or drink, especially the latter, as a compliment, or as an expression of friendship or regard; as, to treat the whole company.
Cure
(transitive) To prepare or alter especially by chemical or physical processing for keeping or use.
The smoke and heat cures the meat.
Treat
To negotiate; to settle; to make terms for.
To treat the peace, a hundred senatorsShall be commissioned.
Cure
To preserve (food), typically by salting. is this sense distinct from the preceding one? another example might be useful
Treat
To care for medicinally or surgically; to manage in the use of remedies or appliances; as, to treat a disease, a wound, or a patient.
Cure
(intransitive) To bring about a cure of any kind.
Treat
To subject to some action; to apply something to; as, to treat a substance with sulphuric acid.
Cure
(intransitive) To be undergoing a chemical or physical process for preservation or use.
The meat was put in the smokehouse to cure.
Treat
To entreat; to beseech.
Cure
(intransitive) To solidify or gel.
The parts were curing in the autoclave.
Treat
To discourse; to handle a subject in writing or speaking; to make discussion; - usually with of; as, Cicero treats of old age and of duties.
And, shortly of this story for to treat.
Now of love they treat.
Cure
To become healed.
Treat
To negotiate; to come to terms of accommodation; - often followed by with; as, envoys were appointed to treat with France.
Inform us, will the emperor treat!
Cure
(obsolete) To pay heed; to care; to give attention.
Treat
To give a gratuitous entertainment, esp. of food or drink, as a compliment.
Cure
Care, heed, or attention.
Of study took he most cure and most heed.
Vicarages of greatcure, but small value.
Treat
A parley; a conference.
Bid him battle without further treat.
Cure
Spiritual charge; care of soul; the office of a parish priest or of a curate; hence, that which is committed to the charge of a parish priest or of a curate; a curacy; as, to resign a cure; to obtain a cure.
The appropriator was the incumbent parson, and had the cure of the souls of the parishioners.
Treat
An entertainment given as an expression of regard.
Cure
Medical or hygienic care; remedial treatment of disease; a method of medical treatment; as, to use the water cure.
Treat
That which affords entertainment; a gratification; a satisfaction; as, the concert was a rich treat.
Cure
Act of healing or state of being healed; restoration to health from disease, or to soundness after injury.
Past hope! pastcure! past help.
I do cures to-day and to-morrow.
Treat
Something considered choice to eat
Cure
Means of the removal of disease or evil; that which heals; a remedy; a restorative.
Cold, hunger, prisons, ills without a cure.
The proper cure of such prejudices.
Treat
An occurrence that cause special pleasure or delight
Cure
A curate; a pardon.
Treat
Interact in a certain way;
Do right by her
Treat him with caution, please
Handle the press reporters gently
Cure
To heal; to restore to health, soundness, or sanity; to make well; - said of a patient.
The child was cured from that very hour.
Treat
Subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition;
Process cheese
Process hair
Treat the water so it can be drunk
Treat the lawn with chemicals
Treat an oil spill
Cure
To subdue or remove by remedial means; to remedy; to remove; to heal; - said of a malady.
To cure this deadly grief.
Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power . . . to cure diseases.
Treat
Provide treatment for;
The doctor treated my broken leg
The nurses cared for the bomb victims
The patient must be treated right away or she will die
Treat the infection with antibiotics
Cure
To set free from (something injurious or blameworthy), as from a bad habit.
I never knew any man cured of inattention.
Treat
Deal with verbally or in some form of artistic expression;
This book deals with incest
The course covered all of Western Civilization
The new book treats the history of China
Cure
To prepare for preservation or permanent keeping; to preserve, as by drying, salting, etc.; as, to cure beef or fish; to cure hay.
Treat
Provide with a gift or entertainment;
Grandmother always treated us to the circus
I like to treat myself to a day at a spa when I am depressed
Cure
To pay heed; to care; to give attention.
Treat
Provide with choice or abundant food or drink;
Don't worry about the expensive wine--I'm treating
She treated her houseguests with good food every night
Cure
To become healed.
One desperate grief cures with another's languish.
Treat
Engage in negotiations in order to reach an agreement;
They had to treat with the King
Cure
A medicine or therapy that cures disease or relieve pain
Treat
Regard or consider in a specific way;
I treated his advances as a joke
Cure
Provide a cure for, make healthy again;
The treatment cured the boy's acne
The quack pretended to heal patients but never managed to
Cure
Prepare by drying, salting, or chemical processing in order to preserve;
Cure meats
Cure pickles
Cure
Make (substances) hard and improve their usability;
Cure resin
Cure
Be or become preserved;
The apricots cure in the sun
Common Curiosities
How do treatments vary between patients?
Treatments vary depending on the individual's specific health conditions, symptoms, and overall health status.
Can all diseases be cured?
Not all diseases have a cure; many chronic or genetic diseases currently only have treatments available.
Can psychological therapies cure mental health disorders?
Psychological therapies primarily treat mental health disorders by managing symptoms and improving life quality, not curing them.
What is the difference between treating and curing infections?
Treating infections generally involves controlling or reducing symptoms, while curing infections means completely eliminating the pathogen.
What role do lifestyle changes play in treating diseases?
Lifestyle changes can significantly manage symptoms and improve overall health in diseases like diabetes and heart disease.
Are cures always permanent?
Cures aim to be permanent, but effectiveness can depend on the disease and other individual health factors.
What does it mean to treat a disease?
Treating a disease means applying medical care and therapies to reduce symptoms and prevent worsening.
Is palliative care a form of treatment?
Yes, palliative care is a form of treatment focused on relieving symptoms and improving quality of life, not curing.
Why is treatment important if a cure is available?
Treatment can be crucial for managing symptoms and complications until a cure is effective or available.
What is an example of a disease that is treatable but not curable?
Type 1 diabetes is currently treatable with insulin but not curable.
What advances in medicine might lead to more cures?
Advances in genetic research, drug development, and technology are promising areas that might lead to more cures.
What factors influence whether a disease can be cured?
Factors include the type of disease, availability of medical technology, and the individual’s specific health conditions.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
