A YOUNG mother is in mourning after the sudden death of her baby boy from meningitis.

The baby, nine-month-old Kristian Cook, was the son of Michelle Wilson, 20, from Whitfield, near Deal, who says she wants to warn all parents about the symptoms of the disease.

Kristian's grandfather, Peter Cook, said Michelle was too distraught to speak personally about the tragedy but she wanted to make a special plea. Mr Cook said: "She is in shock and so is my son, Christopher. Yet they are keen to alert parents about meningitis."

Kristian started feeling unwell on Saturday and his parents assumed he was suffering from flu. They took him to Dover's Buckland Hospital at about 10.30pm and Peter Cook said a doctor assured them the baby had "just got a bug".

But after taking him home to Michelle's house in Gordon Road, Whitfield, his condition became worse and Kristian was screaming and crying. Mr Cook added: "They noticed a rash on his side and he was rushed to the Kent and Canterbury Hospital by ambulance.

"His condition deteriorated very quickly and he had spots all over his body. He was covered from head to toe. Christopher phoned to tell us he was worried and I told him Kristian was in the best possible place. Obviously we weren't to know what was going to happen." The baby died on Sunday.

Michelle also has a daughter Sophie Louise, aged four, who is a pupil at Whitfield Primary School. Kristian's funeral will be held at noon on Tuesday, St Mary's Church, Cannon Street, Dover.

A spokeswoman for the Kent and Medway Strategic Health Authority's infection control and health protection unit said the baby's close family have been given antibiotics. She added that it was not yet known what strain of the disease he had.

* NOT every baby gets all the meningitis symptoms and they can appear in any order. The Meningitis Research Foundation tell parents to trust their instincts and if they think a child is seriously ill they should get medical help immediately.

High temperature, breathing difficulties, vomiting, refusing to feed, diarrhoea, cold hands and feet, floppy body or a moaning cry can all be warnings.

There can also be a pin prick rash or bruises anywhere on the body or a tense or bulging soft spot on the head. Older children who can talk may also complain about pain in the stomach, joints and muscles, very bad headache, a stiff neck or dislike of bright lights.

Meningitis Research Foundation has a 24-hour free helpline. Phone 0808 800 3344.