A BRADFORD father has warned parents not to "drop their guard" against the dangers of meningitis, despite advances in vaccines available to treat the disease.

Ian Wilkinson, 53, who now lives in Keighley, lost his son Kyle to Pneumococcal Meningitis in 1999 when he was just 18 months old.

He and his family have been working with the Meningitis Research Foundation ever since, and he has used Meningitis Awareness Week, which ends tomorrow, to ensure people remain vigilant on the symptoms to look for.

"We contacted the foundation after Kyle died, when we were still going through the various stages of grief and looking for answers," said Mr Wilkinson.

"The aim of this week has been to highlight the fact that despite the development of vaccines, meningitis is still here.

"There are still 3,300 cases every year.

"You should never drop your guard, or feel a fool for taking your child to get checked out. We suffered the consequences of a lack of understanding."

The Meningitis Research Foundation estimates that meningitis and septicaemia affect nine people in the UK and Ireland every day, killing one in ten, and leaving a quarter of survivors with life altering after-effects ranging from deafness and brain damage to loss of limbs.

Children under five and students are most at risk, but the diseases can strike at any age and not all forms are currently covered by vaccines.

When he died on June 1 1999, Mr Wilkinson said his son had been suffering from a cold for a few days, but nothing out of the ordinary for an 18 month-old baby.

"We took him to A&E in Halifax just to get him checked out and the doctor said it was just a cold and the usual Calpol and plenty of fluids should help," he said.

"The next morning I couldn't wake Kyle and as I reached into his cot, I noticed his lips were turning blue.

"I quickly started mouth to mouth as his breathing was very shallow and he was limp and unresponsive.

"Kyle was taken back to A&E and when we got there, the doctors told us he was stable and they had a few checks and tests to carry out but didn't know what was wrong.

"Over the next 12-14 hours we waited and were eventually told that Kyle was not responding to treatment, and that some brain stem tests had been carried out indicating it was the machine he was hooked up to that was keeping him alive.

"We spent another hour with him before saying goodbye.

"The machine was switched off and he died in my arms. We spent a few more hours with him before leaving on what was, a beautiful sunny morning.

“We support Meningitis Awareness Week because everyone needs to know the symptoms so they can seek medical help fast.”

Christopher Head, chief executive of the Meningitis Research Foundation, said: “We’re very grateful to Ian for supporting Meningitis Awareness Week.

"Meningitis and septicaemia are diseases you never expect to happen, but his personal experience really brings home how devastating these diseases can be, and why it’s so important to be aware of the symptoms and be prepared to act fast when loved ones, family and friends fall sick.”

For more information on the condition, visit www.meningitis.org.