Whooping cough case at Shawano High School

SHAWANO - Shawano High School officials are letting parents know about a case of whooping cough in a student.

•   Click here to read the letter to parents  

Whooping cough starts with a long series of coughing fits, which become worse over a week or two.

The coughing can be followed by gagging, vomiting, or difficulty catching breath.

The illness is usually most serious for infants, pregnant women, elderly and those with compromised immune systems.

In the past three months, 69 cases of whooping cough have been reported in the Appleton area.