THREE cases of whooping cough have been diagnosed at schools in Brisbane.

The schools, Brisbane State High School, Sunnybank State High School and Albany Creek State High School, have given out letters and fact sheets about the serious and contagious respiratory infection.

A Department of Education and Training spokesperson said they were working with Queensland Health to address the cases.

The spokesperson said when someone had received a whooping cough diagnosis they were excluded from school premises until they had written medical clearance from their health care provider.

"Schools have asked parents and carers to monitor their child's health," they said.

The infection is particularly serious for young children and one in every 200 babies who contract it will die.

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But for teenagers and adults the infection may only cause a persistent cough.

Whooping cough often starts like a cold, with a runny nose, sneezing and tiredness over several days, and then the characteristic coughing bouts develop.

These bouts might end with a crowing noise like a "whoop" sound as air is drawn back into the chest.

Gagging or vomiting will often follow the coughing.

A course of antibiotics is used to treat the cough, but vaccination is the most effective way to prevent it.

Queensland Health reports Australia has an epidemic every three to four years.

EARLIER: Whooping cough outbreak reported at Brisbane school

THE Department of Education is yet to confirm if a case of whooping cough has been diagnosed at a Brisbane school.

News Limited is reporting parents of students at Brisbane State High School were today told by the school that a case of the contagious respiratory infection had been diagnosed.

The infection is particularly serious for young children and one in every 200 babies who contract it will die.

Queensland Health referred APN to the Department of Education for more information about the reported diagnosis.

The education department said it was working on a response.

- APN NEWSDESK