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Preliminary epidemiological and clinical profile of the 2024 pediatric pertussis outbreak: a retrospective analysis

Xiang Lin1, Yuhong Qiu1, Zhifang Huang1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Fuzhou Second General Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Fuzhou, China.

Frontiers in Pediatrics
|July 14, 2026
PubMed

Insights

In 2024, a pertussis (whooping cough) outbreak in Fuzhou affected many children, especially infants. Elevated platelet and ALT levels predicted longer hospital stays, even without fever.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • A global surge in pediatric pertussis (whooping cough) cases occurred in 2024, with atypical symptoms and increased hospitalizations.
  • This study focused on the Fuzhou region of China to understand the 2024 pertussis outbreak in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the epidemiological and clinical features of pediatric pertussis during the 2024 Fuzhou outbreak.
  • To identify predictors of prolonged hospitalization in children with pertussis.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 69 PCR-confirmed pediatric pertussis cases admitted to Fuzhou Second General Hospital in 2024.
  • Evaluation of demographics, clinical signs, laboratory results, and treatment.
  • Univariable, multivariable, and LASSO regression analyses to identify factors associated with hospitalization duration.

Main Results:

  • The outbreak peaked in June-July 2024, with infants and preschool-aged children most affected.
  • Prolonged hospitalization was unexpectedly associated with the absence of fever and normal inflammatory markers.
  • Elevated platelet counts and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were identified as key predictors of extended hospital stays.

Conclusions:

  • Infants and school-aged children were disproportionately affected by the 2024 Fuzhou pertussis outbreak.
  • Afebrile presentations with normal inflammatory markers, elevated platelets, and ALT levels may predict prolonged hospitalization.
  • Findings offer insights for clinical risk stratification in pediatric pertussis, requiring validation in larger studies.
Abstract

Keywords:
clinical markersepidemiologypediatric infectious diseasespertussispertussis resurgence

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