A child stands in a river with worms and vaccine vials, representing schistosomiasis and vaccine effectiveness.

Boosting Your Child's Immunity: How to Fight Schistosomiasis and Protect Against Measles

Lena Voss in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover the surprising link between schistosomiasis and measles vaccine effectiveness, and learn practical steps to safeguard your children's health in endemic areas."

For parents living in areas where parasitic infections like schistosomiasis are common, ensuring your children are healthy and protected can feel like a constant challenge. Schistosomiasis, a disease caused by parasitic worms, affects millions worldwide, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. While mass drug administration (MDA) programs aim to reduce its impact, recent studies reveal a concerning link between schistosomiasis and the effectiveness of routine childhood vaccinations, such as the measles vaccine.

A study published in Frontiers in Immunology sheds light on this critical issue. Researchers investigated the prevalence of schistosomiasis in rural Cameroon and its association with lower measles vaccine responses in school children. The findings underscore the need for a more comprehensive approach to child health in endemic regions, combining parasite control with strategies to enhance vaccine efficacy.

This article breaks down the key findings of the study, explains the potential impact on your child's health, and offers practical steps you can take to boost their immunity and protect them from preventable diseases. Understanding the interplay between parasitic infections and vaccine responses is crucial for parents striving to provide the best possible care for their children.

Understanding Schistosomiasis and Its Impact

A child stands in a river with worms and vaccine vials, representing schistosomiasis and vaccine effectiveness.

Schistosomiasis is a debilitating disease caused by parasitic worms called schistosomes. These worms live in freshwater and infect people when they come into contact with contaminated water. Children are particularly vulnerable, often contracting the infection through activities like swimming or playing in rivers and lakes. The disease can lead to various health problems, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, liver and bladder damage, and impaired growth and development.

In Cameroon, like many other endemic countries, MDA programs are implemented to control schistosomiasis. These programs involve the mass administration of praziquantel, a drug that kills the parasitic worms, to school children. While MDA has helped reduce the prevalence of schistosomiasis, it hasn't completely eliminated the disease. The recent study in Cameroon reveals that schistosomiasis transmission persists even after years of MDA, highlighting the need for more effective control strategies.

To summarize, here are the key facts about schistosomiasis:

Caused by parasitic worms found in freshwater.
Infects people through contact with contaminated water.
Common in sub-Saharan Africa and other tropical regions.
Can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, and organ damage.

The study also found that older children and those with frequent contact with river water were at higher risk of infection. This suggests that current MDA strategies, which primarily target school children, may not be sufficient to protect the entire community. Moreover, the persistence of schistosomiasis despite MDA raises concerns about the potential for drug resistance and the need for alternative control measures.

Taking Action: Protecting Your Child's Health

The findings from the Cameroon study serve as a wake-up call, highlighting the urgent need for a more integrated approach to child health in schistosomiasis-endemic areas. As a parent, you can take proactive steps to protect your children: By staying informed, advocating for comprehensive health programs, and adopting preventive measures, you can empower your children to thrive in the face of these challenges. Prioritize your child's health, and you will contribute to a healthier future for your family and community.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02295, Alternate LINK

Title: Schistosomiasis Burden And Its Association With Lower Measles Vaccine Responses In School Children From Rural Cameroon

Subject: Immunology

Journal: Frontiers in Immunology

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Authors: Justin Komguep Nono, Severin Donald Kamdem, Palmer Masumbe Netongo, Smritee Dabee, Michael Schomaker, Alim Oumarou, Frank Brombacher, Roger Moyou-Somo

Published: 2018-10-09

Everything You Need To Know

What exactly is schistosomiasis, and how does it affect children's health?

Schistosomiasis is caused by parasitic worms called schistosomes found in freshwater. People get infected when they come into contact with water contaminated with these worms. Children are particularly vulnerable due to their activities like swimming and playing in rivers. Schistosomiasis is common in sub-Saharan Africa and can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, and damage to organs like the liver and bladder.

What are mass drug administration (MDA) programs, and how effective are they in controlling schistosomiasis?

Mass drug administration (MDA) programs involve giving praziquantel, a medication that kills parasitic worms, to large groups of people, usually school children, in areas where schistosomiasis is common. While MDA programs have reduced schistosomiasis, they haven't eliminated it completely, as evidenced by ongoing transmission in areas like rural Cameroon. Also the current MDA strategies, which primarily target school children, may not be sufficient to protect the entire community.

How does schistosomiasis affect the measles vaccine's effectiveness?

A study in Cameroon found a link between schistosomiasis and lower effectiveness of the measles vaccine in school children. This suggests that having schistosomiasis can weaken a child's immune response to the measles vaccine, making them more susceptible to measles even after vaccination. The study underscores the need for a more comprehensive approach to child health in endemic regions, combining parasite control with strategies to enhance vaccine efficacy.

What can parents do to protect their children from schistosomiasis and ensure vaccines work effectively?

Parents can take proactive steps to protect their children by staying informed about schistosomiasis and its impact, advocating for comprehensive health programs that address both parasitic infections and vaccinations, and adopting preventive measures to minimize contact with contaminated water sources. Prioritizing your child's health, and you will contribute to a healthier future for your family and community.

What are the implications of schistosomiasis persistence despite mass drug administration programs using praziquantel?

The fact that schistosomiasis transmission persists despite MDA raises concerns about the potential for drug resistance to praziquantel. If the worms become resistant to the drug, it could make schistosomiasis much harder to control. This highlights the urgent need for alternative control measures, such as improved sanitation, water hygiene, and potentially new drug targets, to combat schistosomiasis effectively and prevent drug resistance.