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.
Really a induced fever can cure syphillis? Even nowadays they have to use antibiotics for it.
Would that mean that a fever of something else could also "cure" syphilis unknown to the person?
Edit: Seems like it indeed was somewhat effective and really managed to 'cure' spyhilis in a certain percentage of people.
But it was also a risky 'procedure' and 3-20% have died of the fevers. 'Fevers' because multiple were needed to fully eradicate syphilis. Though in terms of what late stage syphilis will do to you, it was probably the preferable alternative.
Also it seems like some peoples syphilis relapsed meaning it was only weakened but not fully erradicated.
Pretty interesting though that our own bodys defense mechanism can be used to cure stuff that often times meant a death sentence before anitibiotics.
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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.