THE PARENTS of a four-year-old boy who survived one of the most severe strains of meningitis are urging others to trust their instincts after a doctor diagnosed their son with a viral infection.

Michaela and Peter Knighton, both 23, took their son Coby, then 14-months-old, to the doctors after being refused an emergency appointment.

He had a fever, was vomiting, was sleepy and unsettled and had a rash.

But despite these red flags, the couple, who lived at Brampton Bierlow at the time, were told Coby had a viral infection and to bring him back in a few days if he was not better.

But within ten minutes of being home, Coby needed an ambulance.

Michaela, who is currently living with Peter in Southampton where he is based in the army, said: “The doctor didn’t even check Coby’s rash, just his temperature and said it was a viral infection and if he wasn’t better in a couple of days, then bring him back.

At the doctors, he was sleepy and wouldn’t wake up. So I ran him a bath to wake him up, but as soon as I put him in it seemed like it shocked him. His breathing was going ten to the dozen and he was grey.

“You never think this is going to happen to you.”

Coby was taken to Barnsley Hospital where he was resuscitated twice and put in an induced coma, and Michaela was told he had meningococcal septicaemia.

“I didn’t know what that was. At first they said there was an 80 per cent chance he would survive, but when he was transferred to Sheffield it was lowered to 50/50. I was told if I’d have left it another ten minutes he probably wouldn’t be here today.”

Coby spent about a month in hospital and was treated with antibiotics as his parents kept a vigil by his bedside. He is now a healthy-four-year-old who loves cars.

“Coby has minor brain damage and a blood clot in his leg but the clot doesn’t affect him. He’s just started school but we’re not seeing any problems at the moment.

“He has a great little personality and is obsessed with cars.”

The couple want every parent to know the symptoms of meningitis and sepsis, and to trust their instincts and not delay getting medical help quickly.

A report by charity Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF) said almost a third of young babies with bacterial meningitis receive inappropriate early treatment which delays parents seeking further help, and about half of children who have meningococcal infection the most common cause of bacterial meningitis - are sent home after their first visit to a GP and not admitted to hospital because the early signs of meningitis and sepsis are often similar to those of less serious illnesses.

National clinical guidelines recommend doctors listen to parents concerns and recommend ‘safety netting’ information is given to parents of sick children with suspected infection before they are sent home including information about meningitis and sepsis.

Michaela said: “Meningitis is one of the most misdiagnosed illnesses because when it starts it can look like a viral infection or flu, but what people don’t understand is how quickly it can take hold of your body.

“I think doctors need to be more patient instead of getting people in and out in ten minutes because it can be life or death.”