Prophylactic drugs are designed to maintain a healthy state by preventing disease.

• A. Maintain a healthy state by preventing disease
• B. Cure infection
• C. Relieve symptoms
• D. Diagnose disease

Answer: (A)

Prophylaxis focuses on prevention. These drugs are used before exposure or before disease develops to keep you healthy by stopping illness from starting or recurring. That’s why maintaining a healthy state by preventing disease is the best description. They don’t cure an active infection, they don’t relieve symptoms once illness is present, and they aren’t used to diagnose disease. Examples include antimalarial prophylaxis before travel and vaccines or preventive antibiotics used to avert certain infections.