A TERRIFIED mum feared her daughter had meningitis after a Wilko bath bomb allegedly brought up a rash all over her body.

Leanne Keating claims her 10-year-old daughter Tia was left covered in itchy red blotches after using the product.

Despite her mother's immediate fears Tia has been told by doctors she does not have meningitis.

Tia's red spots have had such a devastating impact on her self-esteem she has refused to go to school for three weeks for fear of bullying.

A Wilko spokesman said this was the first instance of a complaint about the 95p passionfruit and melon "Fruits" product and the matter is being investigated urgently.

Stay-at-home mum Leanne said: "Tia had a bath with the bath bomb the Sunday I bought it. She'd never used a bath bomb before and wanted to try one."

Tia then came out in a rash the following day but didn't show her mum until Wednesday as she thought it might just go away.

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Leanne said: "I was worried. We got to my mum's later and she told me it looked like meningitis. We did the test with a glass and it didn't go away so we rushed her straight to hospital.

"The rash started off on her tummy, and it's moved up to her neck, it's on her face, a bit of her arms and between her thighs now as well.

"It just keeps getting worse. Her skin is really itchy. It's really affecting her self-esteem. She just won't come out of her bedroom, she's really low about it.

"She's too embarrassed to go to Morris Dancing or school in case she gets picked on about it."

What is meningitis and what are the symptoms of the potentially fatal disease?

Meningitis can easily be mistaken for flu or a hangover in adults, but knowing the signs of meningitis can prove life-saving.

The deadly disease can affect anyone, but is most common in babies, young kids and young adults.

Meningitis causes an inflammation of the membranes that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord and can be triggered by bacteria or a virus.

If it is not treated quickly meningitis can develop in deadly septicaemia, or blood poisoning, that can cause permanent damage to the brain or nerves.

Around 3,200 people a year are diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and one in 10 die or are left with life-changing disabilities.

Viral forms of meningitis are less common and rarely life-threatening.

What are the key symptoms?

• The symptoms of meningitis can develop very quickly, and include:
• A high fever – over 37.5 degrees (the average temperature)
• Being sick
• A headache
• A blotchy rash that won’t fade when a glass is rolled over it
• Stiffness, especially in the neck
• Drowsiness, irritability or a lack of energy
• Cold hands and feet
• Seizures

In babies the symptoms can be slightly different, they may:

• Refuse to eat
• Be agitated and not want to be picked up
• Having a bulging soft spot on their head
• Be floppy and inresponsive
• Have an unusual, high-pitched cry
• Have a stiff body

Source: Meningitis Research Foundation

Leanne took Tia to hospital as the doctor's was shut soon as she saw the rash.

Leanne was told she had suffered a severe skin reaction to the product and was sent home a few hours later.

Leanne says almost a month later the rash has still not disappeared.

She said: "It's much worse now. It's dark, it doesn't look like a normal rash.

"I've taken her to the doctor's and the chemists, and they've given us cream, but it isn't working.

"We took her into school when it happened and showed the headmaster, and he told her to come back in when she is feeling better.

"I've had to go the school to bring work home for her to do so that she's not missing out on school work as well."

The worried mum said she has spoken to Wilko and they had agreed that they should have allergy labels on products to warn people that a reaction is possible.

She added: "I didn't know it was the bath bomb at first. But a friend of mine who is medically trained asked me if Tia had got anything for Christmas that she's used that was different.

"The only thing she'd used that was different was the bath bomb. She'd had a bath with it, she only used half. At the time it stained her hands purple.

"She doesn't have sensitive skin, there were no warnings or anything on the label, it just said to keep away from babies.

"I'd say people shouldn't use these bath bombs, even if you don't have sensitive skin. The labelling should have a warning."

A spokesman for Wilko confirmed they were investigating the complaint but said the product had passed all relevant testing including a cosmetic product safety assessment.

The spokesman said: "Customer safety is paramount at Wilko. This is the first such incident on and all relevant safety tests have been passed but nevertheless we have launched an immediate and rigorous investigation and continue to liaise with the customer and will respond fully as soon as possible."

Last month a mum told of her agony after her son "screamed like the devil" as meningitis ravaged his body.

A charity has warned the symptoms of meningitis can be mistaken for a hangover.

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