A MUM told today how her baby had to be rushed to hospital with the most deadly form of meningitis - hours after being examined by a doctor at home.
Keegan Nolan is now recovering in isolation at the Royal Bolton Hospital after falling seriously ill.
His relieved mum Mrs Linda Nolan says her son is responding well to treatment.
The three-month-old baby became ill on Thursday, and by Friday his condition had worsened. He developed a rash and his parents feared he had meningitis.
Keegan had a very high temperature, was in obvious pain and would not feed, said Mrs Nolan, 31.
She called out a doctor who examined Keegan at the family's home in Pimlott Road, Hall i'th' Wood.
Mrs Nolan said he diagnosed "a virus" and gave her a prescription for Calpol. But by 6pm Mrs Nolan and her husband Tony, 35, were becoming increasingly concerned as Keegan's condition deteriorated.
They took Keegan to the hospital where he was immediately admitted and treated for suspected meningitis.
On Sunday morning he was diagnosed as suffering from the meningococcal septicaemia strain of meningitis, which is a form of blood poisoning.
Mrs Nolan said: "The hospital staff have been brilliant. When I spoke to a member of staff on the telephone and described Keegan's symptoms, it was immediately thought to be meningitis and I was told to get him to hospital."
When the family got to the hospital, Keegan was put in isolation.
Family and friends have been provided with antibiotics to prevent the disease spreading.
Now Mrs Nolan is warning other parents to take their children to hospital if they are not convinced by a doctor's diagnosis.
"My advice would be to get their child to hospital if they are at all concerned." The doctor said he was unable to comment on individual cases as he was governed by patient confidentiality.
Consultant in communicable disease control, Dr Robert Aston, said although he could not comment on an individual case "it is impossible in the early stages for anybody to diagnose meningitis".
He said this was an "isolated case" but advised parents to "use their maternal and paternal instincts" and seek medical help if they are concerned.
Bolton GPs are supplied with free penicillin to hand out to suspected meningitis cases, which can prove to be life-saving if given prior to admission to hospital.
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