In the Philippines, boys suffer more frequently from malnutrition and anemia than girls because of a chronic infection caused by the parasite Schistosoma japonicum.
According to Hannah Coutinho in her doctoral thesis, schistosomiasis often goes hand in hand with liver fibrosis. Cytokines, which contribute to inflammation, play a role in making liver fibrosis worse. Boys make cytokines in higher concentrations than girls, which could explain why liver fibrosis occurs more often in boys and is frequently more serious. Vaccinating for Schistosoma japonicum stimulates cytokines and increases the risk of aggravating liver fibrosis.
Hannah Coutinho received her PhD from Utrecht University on December 7. The title of her thesis is, “Schistosoma japonicum-associated morbidity and its mechanisms among children and young adults in the Philippines.”