Photo of misdiagnosed child released as warning to parents

THE family of a five year-old girl misdiagnosed with swine flu when she actually had meningitis have released pictures of her in hospital as a warning to other parents.

When Ruby Ayoub’s parents brought her to a doctor’s surgery when she became very unwell, they were told she had swine flu and to bring her home.

However, within hours they became deeply concerned at the deterioration in her condition and rushed her to Crumlin Hospital where she was diagnosed with the potentially lethal disease meningitis.

She has been in a coma since last Sunday and, according to her family has no brain function.

According to her father before her condition deteriorated she complained of headache and pain all down the back of her neck. She was also throwing up constantly.

She would also suffer a painful reaction to bright light.

However, the rash which many people associate with meningitis was not present.

Her father Michael has advised parents to be vigilant for any signs of the disease and not merely to assume that they are symptoms of swine flu. He said he wants to help ensure that other children do not suffer in the same way as his daughter.