Electrotherapy is the electrical stimulation of tissues for therapeutic purposes the therapy uses specific wave length and frequency from the electromagnetic spectrum to produced desired physiological and chemical changes in the body, the term electrotherapy can apply to a variety of treatments, including the use of electrical devices such as deep brain stimulators for neurological disease. The term has also been applied specifically to the use of electric current to speed wound healing. Additionally, the term "electrotherapy" or "electromagnetic therapy" has also been applied to a range of alternative medical devices and treatments [1].
Electric shock used in muscle stimulation to prevent atrophy and restore muscle mass and strength employed what was termed galvanic exercise on the atrophied hands of patients who had an ulnar nerve lesion from surgery upon a wound [2] ,it’s also used in cancer treatment according to study that report 98% shrinkage of tumor in animal subjects on being treated with DC electrotherapy for only five hours over five days [1].
Modern uses of electrotherapy:
The American Physical Therapy Association acknowledges the use of electrotherapy for:
Pain management by Improves range of joint movement [3]
Treatment of neuromuscular dysfunction by improvement of strength, Improvement of motor control, Retards atrophy, Improvement of local blood flow [4]
Improves range of joint mobility by Induces repeated stretching of contracted, shortened soft tissues [5].
Tissue repair by Enhances microcirculation and protein synthesis to heal wounds, increased blood flow to the injured tissues increases macrophages to clean up debris and restores integrity of connective and dermal [6].
Acute and chronic edema by Accelerates absorption rate, affects blood vessel permeability and increases mobility of proteins, blood cells and lymphatic flow [7].
Promotion of peripheral blood flow by induces arterial, venous and lymphatic flow [5]
Iontophoresis by delivery of pharmacological agents and transports ions through skin (Dexamethasone, Acetic acid, Lidocaine),[8].
Management of urine and fecal incontinence by affects pelvic floor musculature to reduce pelvic pain and strengthen musculature [5].
Lymphatic drainage by stimulate lymphatic system to reduce edema and other medical uses [9].
Malaria parasites
Malaria disease is caused by Plasmodium parasites. The parasites are spread to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, called "malaria vectors." There are 5 parasite species that cause malaria in humans, and 2 of these species – P. falciparum and P. vivax – pose the greatest threat.
In 2018, P. falciparum accounted for 99.7% of estimated malaria cases in the WHO African Region 50% of cases in the WHO South-East Asia Region, 71% of cases in the Eastern Mediterranean and 65% in the Western Pacific.
P. vivax is the predominant parasite in the WHO Region of the Americas, representing 75% of malaria cases [10].
Resistance to antimalarial medicines is a recurring problem. Resistance of P. falciparum malaria parasites to previous generations of medicines, such as chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), became widespread in the 1950 and 1960, undermining malaria control efforts and reversing gains in child survival.
Protecting the efficacy of antimalarial medicines is critical to malaria control and elimination. Regular monitoring of drug efficacy is needed to inform treatment policies in malaria-endemic countries, and to ensure early detection of, and response to, drug resistance [10].