OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between human parvovirus B19 infection and childhood idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) by the principle of evidence based medicine. METHODS: Papers related to the relationship between human parvovirus B19 infection and childhood ITP published between 1994 and 2008 were retrieved electronically from the Chinese Journals Full-text Database and the Wanfang Data. These relevant papers on case-control trials were statistically studied by meta analysis. RESULTS: Eight papers that met the inclusion criteria were included for this meta analysis. Five hundred and sixteen cases of childhood ITP and 246 healthy controls were enrolled. The meta analysis showed that the incidence of human parvovirus B19 infection in the ITP group was significantly higher than that in the control group (OR=13.71, 95% CI=7.07-26.59, Z=7.75, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Human parvovirus B19 infection is closely associated with childhood ITP.[Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2009, 11 (12):999-1001]