Dr. Taichi Odagawa, an assistant professor in the Department of Tropical Medicine at Jichi Medical University, stated that changing the body temperature of an infected person may inhibit the reproduction of the malaria parasite, which could help in treating the disease.The doctor said that the results of a recent study showed that placing the malaria parasite in an environment cooler than normal body temperature inhibits its reproduction.
He explained that the study was conducted on the tropical malaria parasite in the laboratory, in addition to an animal model of mice, and the results in both cases showed that lowering the temperature contributed to reducing the parasite's reproduction.
He pointed out that one possible explanation for this phenomenon is the parasite's inability to invade new red blood cells. The malaria parasite multiplies inside red blood cells, then periodically exits them to infect other cells, leading to an increase in its numbers within the body.
He added that the results indicate the possibility of developing a treatment approach that not only relies on the direct effect of antimalarial drugs on the parasite, but also includes modifying the environment in which it reproduces inside the host's body.
The researcher believes that these results may open the door to supportive treatment methods for severe cases of malaria, by combining body temperature control with traditional drug therapy.
However, Udagawa stressed that the study's findings do not mean that forcibly lowering body temperature can cure malaria, emphasizing that the primary treatment for the disease still depends on the proper use of antimalarial drugs.
He also noted that applying cooling or body temperature control techniques to patients requires further animal studies, safety assessments, and then large-scale clinical trials. He explained that using such methods necessitates close monitoring of body temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration, level of consciousness, and vital organ functions.
