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This study aims to assess whether the cleft nucleus lymphocytosis could be an early promising clue for the diagnosis of pertussis in young infants. Pertussis (whooping cough) is a severe respiratory disease mainly caused by Bordetella pertussis infection and is characterized by a significant rise in the number of leukocyte and lymphocyte in infants and young children. In this study, the Bordetella pertussis DNA was detected from samples of pharyngeal swab by PCR assay. Levels of serum specific IgM against other respiratory pathogens were detected by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay. The routine blood test including numbers of leukocytes, lymphocytes, and platelets etc. were tested by automatic hemocyte analyzer (Sysemx XN1000). Besides, the morphology of leucocytes was observed in peripheral blood smear with microscope by Wright-Giemsa stain. Three cases of pertussis with cleft nucleus lymphocytes in young infants were discussed in in the neonatal/pediatric intensive care unit in our hospital. Leukocytosis characterized by lymphocytes, as well as thrombocytosis were observed in all patients. Our results demonstrated that cleft nucleus lymphocytosis accompanied with leukocytosis and lymphocytes would be potent assistant indicators for the early diagnosis of pertussis in young children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]