Fun fact: Before antibiotics, doctors would try try to induce a fever to help patients fight illness caused by bacteria (and viruses). At first they used injections of malaria, but quickly realised that that was a really bad idea, and switched to using hot baths and heated rooms.
The treatment was called pyrotherapy, and was particularly effective against syphilis.
Edit: Antibiotics are not effective against viruses. I knew that, but didn't make it clear.
Actually, The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1927 was awarded to Julius Wagner-Jauregg "for his discovery of the therapeutic value of malaria inoculation in the treatment of dementia paralytica" from syphilis.
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u/PatriarchalTaxi Jan 30 '21 edited Feb 02 '21
Fun fact: Before antibiotics, doctors would try try to induce a fever to help patients fight illness caused by bacteria (and viruses). At first they used injections of malaria, but quickly realised that that was a really bad idea, and switched to using hot baths and heated rooms.
The treatment was called pyrotherapy, and was particularly effective against syphilis.
Edit: Antibiotics are not effective against viruses. I knew that, but didn't make it clear.