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Background <p>This study aims to investigate the current epidemiological and clinical features of pertussis among children in Hubei, China, and to provide evidence for optimizing prevention and control strategies.</p> Methods <p>From October 2023 to February 2025, nasopharyngeal swabs of altogether 20,727 children with suspected pertussis across multiple hospitals were collected for etiological detection of <i>Bordetella pertussis</i>. Real-time PCR (qPCR) assay was used to confirm diagnosis. Descriptive epidemiological analysis was performed on the results.</p> Results <p>Among the study population, 2,523 cases (12.2%) were PCR positive. Seasonal peaks were in spring (49.7%) and winter (25.1%), and the highest incidence occurred in April 2024 (511 cases, 20.3%). PCR positive children were significantly older than PCR negative counterparts (median [IQR] age: 5 [2–7] vs 4 [2–6] years, <i>P</i> &lt; 0.001), while in pertussis cases the inpatients were significantly younger than the outpatients (median [IQR] age: 0 [0–5] vs 6 [4–7] years, <i>P</i> &lt; 0.001). Children aged 5–9 years (around primary school age) were the most affected (1,468 cases, 58.2%), whereas infants aged 0–2 months were most severely hospitalized (48 cases, 27.9%). Alarmingly, the vast majority of pertussis cases are not adequately identified, up to 98.9%.</p> Conclusions <p>Our findings indicate a significant epidemiological shift with the primary school age emerging as the new high-risk population for pertussis, necessitating targeted surveillance. These results underscore the urgent need for enhanced clinical awareness, improved diagnostic protocols, and targeted vaccination strategies, particularly for primary school children and infants.</p>

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Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pertussis in pediatric population: a multicenter study of 20,727 children in Hubei, China

  • 期刊论文

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月6日

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  • Saisai Xu,
  • Li Yuan,
  • Weiyong Liu,
  • Chenglin Ye,
  • Zhiqiang Li,
  • Julien Augustin Gaétan Segbo,
  • Zhengjiang Jin,
  • Chengliang Zhu

摘要

Background

This study aims to investigate the current epidemiological and clinical features of pertussis among children in Hubei, China, and to provide evidence for optimizing prevention and control strategies.

Methods

From October 2023 to February 2025, nasopharyngeal swabs of altogether 20,727 children with suspected pertussis across multiple hospitals were collected for etiological detection of Bordetella pertussis. Real-time PCR (qPCR) assay was used to confirm diagnosis. Descriptive epidemiological analysis was performed on the results.

Results

Among the study population, 2,523 cases (12.2%) were PCR positive. Seasonal peaks were in spring (49.7%) and winter (25.1%), and the highest incidence occurred in April 2024 (511 cases, 20.3%). PCR positive children were significantly older than PCR negative counterparts (median [IQR] age: 5 [2–7] vs 4 [2–6] years, P < 0.001), while in pertussis cases the inpatients were significantly younger than the outpatients (median [IQR] age: 0 [0–5] vs 6 [4–7] years, P < 0.001). Children aged 5–9 years (around primary school age) were the most affected (1,468 cases, 58.2%), whereas infants aged 0–2 months were most severely hospitalized (48 cases, 27.9%). Alarmingly, the vast majority of pertussis cases are not adequately identified, up to 98.9%.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate a significant epidemiological shift with the primary school age emerging as the new high-risk population for pertussis, necessitating targeted surveillance. These results underscore the urgent need for enhanced clinical awareness, improved diagnostic protocols, and targeted vaccination strategies, particularly for primary school children and infants.