A MENINGITIS alert has been issued to parents across the borough after a school pupil was hospitalised with the illness during the Christmas break.

NHS Redbridge has not yet released the name of the school the child attends, but has advised all families to look out for the tell-tale signs of the deadly bacterial infection.

Common symptoms of the disease include a rash, fever, vomiting, shivering, rapid or unusual breathing, stomach, joint and muscle pain and drowsiness.

A spokesman for NHS Redbridge said: "Meningococcal disease is a rare but potentially serious bacterial infection which can cause meningitis and septicaemia.

"Meningitis has a variety of symptoms including severe headaches, aversion to bright lights, neck stiffness, nausea and vomiting, confusion and drowsiness, loss of consciousness and fitting.

"Children and babies are particularly at risk of contracting meningitis although adults can also be affected.

"The NHS provides vaccines to protect against most forms of meningococcal disease. However, there is still no vaccine for Meningitis Group B, which is the most common in the UK."

The spokesman said that there are currently no plans to close any of the borough's schools.

Gladys Xavier, Deputy Director of Public Health for Redbridge said: "Many families are particularly worried about swine flu but meningitis is also a serious illness.

"If a child falls ill with the symptoms we advise parents to seek medical help immediately. The pupil in question has responded well to treatment and spotting the symptoms early is important in treatment.

"Parents assume that because their child has been immunised at school there is no threat of infection, but as there is no vaccine for the group B disease they are still at risk, so parents need to remain watchful.

"We would also urge parents to make sure children have all their immunisation from their GP Practice before they start school."