PARENTS have been issued with health advice following the sudden death of five-year-old Ethan Scholes from meningitis.

Ethan, from Penhill, who was a pupil at Swindon Academy, died this month at Great Western Hospital just hours after the first symptoms of the infection started to show.

Now NHS Swindon and the Meningitis Trust charity are urging everyone to make sure they know the warning signs and to take immediate action if they suspect meningitis.

Meningitis can affect adults but children are particularly susceptible and meningitis is responsible for killing more under fives than any other infectious disease in the UK.

Official figures show there were no confirmed cases in Swindon in 2009, but there were 21 in Wiltshire and 93 across the south west.

Claire Donovan, the community nurse service manager at the Meningitis Trust, said: “There’s no vaccine to prevent the most common type of meningitis – which is meningococcal type B – so there’s nothing we can do to stop people getting it.

“But what we tell people to do is be aware of the symptoms, and if they are ever worried about anything then do get urgent medical help – don’t wait.”

Ms Donovan said that anyone who has reason to doubt a GP’s diagnosis of “no meningitis” should explain their reasons and request a re-examination.

She said: “Tell the doctor why you think it could be meningitis, give them the full picture of the reasons you think it might be that.

“One of the things we urge people to do is keep a little symptoms card in their wallet which we provide free of charge.

“Take that to the doctor and say ‘they are displaying these symptoms’ and the doctor can re-examine them or reassure you as to what the diagnosis is.”

Dr Liz Mearns, an NHS Swindon GP, said: “As part of the childhood immunisation programme, parents are advised to have their babies vaccinated which will offer protection against one type of meningitis, but not all.

“A common misconception is that a rash which doesn’t fade is the only symptom of meningitis. Although a rash can be a symptom it does not always appear.

“When it does appear it can be one of the last symptoms to be displayed and is often too late.

“It’s therefore important to know how to spot all the signs of meningitis and seek immediate help if you, or your child, display symptoms.”

She added: “Ethan’s father has been tremendously brave to warn parents of the symptoms of meningitis as everyone is at risk of developing the illness at some point.

“At the same time it is also important to reassure parents in Swindon that the likelihood of another child in the same school developing meningitis is very low as it is not easily spread.”

The charity Meningitis UK, which contacted the Adver after learning about Ethan’s death, has launched a £7m appeal to fund research into finding a vaccine for all forms of meningitis.

Chief executive Steve Dayman said: “Sadly, as was the case with Ethan, the disease can kill in hours and can often be incredibly difficult to detect as the symptoms are hard to distinguish from flu or a more common ailment, plus there are occasions when people show no or very few symptoms.

For information or a symptoms card, call the Meningitis Trust on 0800 028 1828. To support Meningitis UK, call 0117 373 7373 or visit the website www.meningitisUK.org.