What type of protection do antivirals offer?

Antiviral agents primarily serve to manage symptoms and reduce viral loads in patients with viral infections. They work by inhibiting the development and replication of viruses, which helps to alleviate the severity and duration of the illness but does not completely eradicate the virus from the body.

While some antivirals may spare patients from severe illness or complications by lowering the viral load, they do not typically provide a permanent cure or complete removal of the virus. This characteristic is especially prevalent in viruses like HIV, where antivirals maintain low levels of the virus but require ongoing treatment.

Options related to complete eradication of the virus or offering long-term immunity are not accurate representations of how current antiviral therapies function. Antivirals are also not typically preventive in nature, as their main role is to treat existing infections rather than prevent them from occurring altogether.