Mum tells how her four-week-old son was left moments away from death after doctors dismissed his meningitis as a cold
Little John was taken for an emergency lumbar puncture with his mother told the little boy was close to death
A LITTLE boy who was just "minutes from death" was wrongly diagnosed with a cold before being told to go home, a horrified mother has said.
John was just four-weeks-old when mum Alison Grocock rushed him to Bassetlaw Hospital's A&E, with the newborn falling asleep before becoming "completely unresponsive".
But Alison was made to wait for hours in emergency, despite the worried mum- who is an NHS 111 worker - hearing her little boy give a high-pitched cry, a known symptom of meningitis in babies.
The 26-year-old and her husband Simon, 29, were forced to insist on being seen during the visit in November last year, later told that their boy had been close to death.
The North Anston mother from South Yorkshire said: "One doctor me John probably had a cold, but I knew there was more to it than that - something was seriously wrong."
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The mother said she was relieved that she had stuck to her guns after being told her boy was "minutes from death".
She said: "I refused to take John home and was sent to the children's ward for him to be checked out.
"I was later told if I had taken John home, he would have died shortly afterwards.
"I am so glad I trusted my instinct."
The little boy, who is now 11-months-old, underwent an emergency lumbar puncture with further tests confirming he had meningitis and septicaemia.
His relieved family have since the little boy on his way to making a full recovery, with a fundraiser to be held as part of his first birthday celebrations.
The hospital has been contacted for comment.
The incident comes after a top pharmacology student, who dreamed of working to find cures for some of the world's most dangerous diseases, died two days after being diagnosed with meningitis.
Paawan Puba died in hospital on August 27, killed by a W strain of the infection.
MENINGITIS SYMPTOMS
· a high temperature (fever) over 37.5C (99.5F)
· being sick
· a headache
· a blotchy rash that doesn't fade when a glass is rolled over it (this won't always develop)
· a stiff neck
· a dislike of bright lights
· drowsiness or unresponsiveness
· seizures (fits)
A test that will take just two hours to detect the deadly infection is hoped to be available on the NHS within five years.
A spokesperson for the Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals said: "The symptoms of meningitis can develop very quickly and sometimes classic symptoms do not appear immediately, or at all.
"With babies and young children, who are unable to describe their symptoms, it is essential that we work with parents and carers to ensure that we make the correct diagnosis as soon as possible.
"In John's case, the Emergency Department consultant arranged for him to be reviewed by a paediatrician on the Children’s Ward where further tests were carried out which confirmed meningitis."
The hospital spokesperson said that they were pleased that the young boy had made a good recovery and was progressing well.
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