A retrospective study of 1,988 pediatric patients with nucleic acid test–confirmed Bordetella pertussis infection at Kunming Children’s Hospital throughout 2024 revealed that disease incidence peaked during the summer months of July and August, following a bimodal age distribution. In the analyzed cohort, infection rates reached their highest level among infants younger than one year of age, alongside a secondary peak observed in children aged seven years. Among the total 1,988 children evaluated, 1,127 patients (56.7%) were treated in the outpatient setting, while 861 patients (43.3%) required hospitalization, reflecting an overall male-to-female ratio of 1.2 to 1.
Clinical manifestations documented among the 861 hospitalized children included paroxysmal cough in 44.9% of cases, post-tussive cyanosis in 21.0%, and fever in 35.5%. In addition to these reported symptoms, radiographic imaging identified pneumonia in 76.8% of the inpatient group. The researchers noted that pediatric pertussis in this regional population presented with atypical clinical features, while overall illness severity demonstrated a decrease with increasing patient age.
Severe pertussis developed in 7.9% of the hospitalized children, with infants younger than one year accounting for 88.2% of all severe cases. Multivariable analysis determined that age under one year, wheezing, and pulmonary consolidation functioned as independent risk factors for severe disease, whereas vaccination was associated with a reduced risk of severe illness. In terms of pharmacological interventions, approximately 25.9% of pediatric patients who initially received macrolide therapy required a treatment switch to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
The retrospective investigation illustrates that Bordetella pertussis remains a notable public health challenge in Kunming and adjacent regions despite widespread vaccination initiatives. Noting that the primary risk factors for severe disease centered on young age and unvaccinated status within this single-center cohort, the authors emphasized the clinical importance of establishing early warning systems for young children, refining vaccination approaches, and maintaining the rational use of antibiotics.
Subject of Research: Pediatric Bordetella pertussis epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and severe disease risk factors
Article Title: Clinical characteristics of pediatric Bordetella pertussis in kunming 2024
Article References: Sun, Y., Hu, X., Tang, M., Wu, J., Jiang, L., Shen, A., Liu, X., & Li, M. (2026). Clinical characteristics of pediatric Bordetella pertussis in kunming 2024. BMC Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-026-14347-7
Image Credits: AI Generated
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-026-14347-7
Keywords: Bordetella pertussis, pediatric pertussis, Kunming, whooping cough, pediatric epidemiology, infant morbidity, respiratory infections, antimicrobial therapy, Clinical, characteristics, pediatric, Bordetella
News Source: Harold Sullivan. (November 10, 2026). Retrospective Study Identifies Pediatric Pertussis Clinical Patterns and Risks in Kunming. Scienmag.
