1. Care and management of a patient to combat, ameliorate, or prevent a disease, disorder, or injury. 2. Method of combating, ameliorating, or preventing a disease, disorder, or injury. Active or curative treatment is designed to cure; palliative treatment is directed to relieve pain and distress; prophylactic treatment is for the prevention of a disease or disorder; and causal treatment focuses on the cause of a disorder. Treatment may be pharmacological, using drugs; surgical, involving operative procedures; or supportive, building the patient’s strength.