GAO Hui-li, DUAN Rui-qiang, YANG Ya-qin, WANG Yan-qing, LI Ming-lei
Objective: To investigate the effects of acetylcysteine combined with ceftizoxime on inflammatory responses and immune function in children with protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB). Methods: A total of 92 children with PBB who were admitted to our hospital from February 2022 to February 2024 were prospectively enrolled and randomly assigned, using a random number table, to a control group (treated with ceftizoxime) or a study group (treated with acetylcysteine combined with ceftizoxime), with 46 children in each group. Clinical efficacy, time for clinical symptoms to improve, inflammatory response indices [C reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA), proteinase 3 anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (PR3-ANCA), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1)], immune function indices (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+/CD8+), and blood gas indices [arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), and blood pH] were compared between the two groups, and the incidence of adverse reactions was recorded. Results: The overall clinical response rate was higher in the study group than in the control group (91.30% vs 80.43%, P<0.05). The time to resolution of rales, time to cessation of cough, time to resolution of dyspnea, duration of fever, and length of hospital stay were shorter in the study group than in the control group (P<0.05). After 7 days of treatment, CRP, PCT, IL-6, MPO-ANCA, PR3-ANCA, CD8+, and PaCO2 levels decreased in both groups and were lower in the study group than in the control group, whereas TIMP-1, CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+, PaO2, and pH levels increased in both groups and were higher in the study group than in the control group (P<0.05). No statistically significant between-group differences were observed in the incidence of gastrointestinal reactions, choking cough, allergic reactions, vomiting, and the overall incidence of adverse reactions (P>0.05). Conclusion: Acetylcysteine combined with ceftizoxime significantly improves clinical symptoms in children with PBB, provides more effective control of inflammatory responses, and improves immune function and blood gas parameters without increasing the risk of adverse reactions.