LOUGHTON: Little boy back to his best after beating meningitis (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

LOUGHTON: Little boy back to his best after beating meningitis

8:00am Friday 10th February 2012 in Epping Forest News By Clare Hardy

A LITTLE boy who nearly died when a doctor failed to spot that he had meningitis has finally been given the all clear.

Kian Clarke of Colebrook Gardens in Loughton, was rushed to Whipps Cross hospital by his mother Kim, in February last year, after he had been vomiting non-stop for four hours.

She told the doctor at the hospital’s A&E unit that she feared the four-year-old might have meningitis but, after looking at Kian’s ears and throat, he told her he had a virus and, sent them home.

Back home he started screaming as his condition worsened and Mrs Clarke called 999.

She refused to have him taken back to Whipps Cross, and paramedics rushed him instead to A&E at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, where he was diagnosed with meningitis and septicaemia.

The condition kills at least 100 children in the UK every year and leaves hundreds more maimed, but doctors at Princess Alexandra managed to save his life.

And after a year of check-ups, doctors have determined that he has no damage to his eyes or ears - a common after-effect of the disease.

Mrs Clarke, 42, said: “He’s a completely normal five-year-old boy and I’m chuffed.

“At the end of the day, we’ve still got our son.

“I couldn’t ask for anything more, because you hear all these stories of children who’ve had their legs and arms amputated because of meningitis.”

“I nearly lost him. I think it was just instinct – I knew something wasn’t right.”

She made an official complaint to Whipps Cross and eventually received a written apology from the doctor who saw Kian.

“He said he’d been practicing for 14 years and had never come across something like that before,” she added.

“After 14 years, surely you would know if there’s something wrong with a child that keeps being sick.”

But she said she was pleased the doctor had written a personal letter and would not take the matter any further.

The NHS lists the early warning signs of meningitis as:

- Pain in the muscles or joints

- Unusually cold hands and feet

- Pale, blotchy skin and blue lips

If these are accompanied by a high temperature, parents are advised to call 999 straight away.

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