Fever therapy

Fever therapy is a type of medical treatment that involves the deliberate induction of fever in a patient for therapeutic purposes. This method of treatment has been used in various forms throughout history, and is still used in some forms of alternative medicine today.

History[edit | edit source]

The use of fever therapy dates back to ancient times, when physicians would induce fever in patients to treat various ailments. The ancient Greeks, for example, used fever therapy to treat mental illness. In the 19th century, fever therapy was used to treat syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum.

In the 20th century, fever therapy was used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders, particularly schizophrenia. This was based on the observation that some patients with schizophrenia showed improvement after suffering from a fever. The most well-known form of fever therapy during this time was malaria therapy, in which patients were intentionally infected with malaria to induce a fever.

Mechanism of action[edit | edit source]

The exact mechanism by which fever therapy works is not fully understood. However, it is believed that the heat generated by the fever can help to kill off certain types of pathogens, including bacteria and viruses. In addition, fever can stimulate the immune system, helping the body to fight off infection.

Current use[edit | edit source]

Today, fever therapy is not commonly used in mainstream medicine due to the risks associated with inducing a fever. However, it is still used in some forms of alternative medicine, such as hyperthermia therapy, which involves heating the body to treat certain conditions, including cancer.

Risks and side effects[edit | edit source]

Fever therapy can have serious side effects, including dehydration, seizures, and in severe cases, death. It is therefore important that this type of therapy is only carried out under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.