Most infectious diseases are manageable with supportive care and the use of antimicrobial agents such as antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics. Sometimes it may be necessary to medically take over a failing organ system (e.g., ventilators during severe pneumonia, hemodialysis during renal failure from septic shock). Recovery, with or without disability, is often possible with such advanced supportive care. There are, however, pathogens that do not have definitive cures, meaning the pathogen can’t be fully eliminated from the body with a specific treatment. Examples include herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1, the typical cause of oral herpes), herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2, the typical cause of genital herpes), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, the cause of AIDS), hepatitis B virus (HBV), polio, rabies, Ebola, Marburg virus, dengue, and an assortment of prion diseases including Kuru, fatal familial insomnia, and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD).
Are all infectious diseases curable?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Although most infectious diseases can be managed with supportive care and antimicrobial agents, sometimes advanced supportive care (e.g., ventilators or hemodialysis) is required. Also, some pathogens, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), do not have definitive cures and cannot be fully eliminated from the body.