Meta-Analysis IDs Top 5 Factors for Severe Pertussis in Chinese Children, Including Lung Consolidation (OR 15.44)

A meta-analysis systematically evaluated factors influencing severe pertussis in Chinese children to provide scientific evidence for prevention and treatment. The study conducted a comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang databases for relevant studies published up to September 30, 2025. A total of 24 studies were included, comprising 839 severe pertussis cases and 4,280 non-severe cases. Data were combined using fixed or random effects models. The analysis found severe pertussis was significantly associated with several factors. The top five strongest associations, in order, were: lung consolidation or atelectasis (odds ratio [OR]: 15.44; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.06-26.31), three concave sign (OR: 12.91; 95%CI: 5.46-30.53), elevated C-reactive protein (OR: 5.33; 95%CI: 3.00-9.49), being unvaccinated with the DTP vaccine (OR: 4.00; 95%CI: 2.86-5.58), and white blood cell count (weighted mean difference [WMD]: 16.42 × 10⁹/L; 95%CI: 9.49-23.36). The abstract concludes that early identification of these factors and timely intervention, along with strengthening vaccination efforts for children, can help effectively reduce severe cases. The abstract does not report specific study designs of the included literature, detailed patient demographics, safety signals, or limitations of the meta-analysis itself.

When a child gets whooping cough, parents and doctors want to know: what are the biggest warning signs that this could become a severe, dangerous illness? A new analysis of 24 studies, involving over 5,000 Chinese children, has identified the top five factors most strongly linked to severe pertussis. The analysis compared 839 severe cases to 4,280 non-severe ones. The strongest warning sign was a lung complication called consolidation or atelectasis, which made severe disease over 15 times more likely. The second strongest was a physical sign of breathing difficulty called the 'three concave sign.' High levels of a protein in the blood that signals inflammation (C-reactive protein) was another major red flag. Perhaps most crucially, children who were not vaccinated with the DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) vaccine were four times more likely to have severe whooping cough. A very high white blood cell count was also strongly linked to severe illness. The study concludes that spotting these factors early and making sure children get vaccinated are key steps to preventing severe cases.