What is the primary goal of antiviral therapy?

The primary goal of antiviral therapy is to suppress viral replication and reduce symptoms. This approach is crucial because most antiviral agents are designed to target specific stages of the viral life cycle, thereby inhibiting the virus's ability to replicate within the host cells. By doing so, antiviral medications help decrease the viral load, which subsequently reduces the severity and duration of the symptoms associated with viral infections.

It's also important to recognize that complete elimination of the virus from the host is often not feasible with antiviral treatments due to the ability of viruses to integrate into the host genome or establish latent infections. Hence, while the goal is to control the infection and alleviate symptoms, a complete eradication is not always possible.

In contrast, enhancing the body's natural immune response is more related to immunotherapy rather than specific antiviral therapy. Improving overall health may support the body's ability to fight infections generally, but it doesn't specifically address the unique mechanisms antivirals employ to combat viral replication. Therefore, the focus on suppressing viral replication effectively characterizes the main objective of antiviral therapies.