Health bosses say the two illnesses can be mixed up because they have similar symptoms.

Cases of meningitis typically rise in the autumn – the same time that experts have predicted a surge in the number of cases of swine flu.

With schools and universities going back, it means people are in close proximity – making it easy for viruses to spread.

Today Ken and Brenda Robinson, whose son Glen died suddenly in 1997, aged just 16, after contracting meningococcal septicaemia, urged Wearsiders to be vigilant.

Ken, 64, of Newbottle, said: "I am aware of a case outside this area of a child who was thought to have swine flu and but had meningitis and died.

"My advice to any parent is if they are unsure, go straight to hospital, because it is life-threatening."

At least two people are already known to have died from meningitis after mistakenly being diagnosed with swine flu.

Children under five are most at risk from meningitis, followed by teenagers and students.

Dr Geoff Stephenson, medical director for NHS South of Tyne and Wear, which covers Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust, said swine flu and meningitis can present with very similar symptoms in the early stages.

Dr Stephenson, who is a GP based at Victoria Road Health Centre in Washington, said these similar early symptoms included fever, muscle aches and pains, headache and cold hands and feet.

He said: "In meningitis, the illness can progress very rapidly in a matter of a few hours from these early, and sometimes rather vague, symptoms to become life-threatening.

"GPs, and many parents, are now aware to look out for a pin-prick rash that can turn into purple bruising, which does not fade when pressed on by a glass, as the classic sign of meningitis, requiring urgent attention.

"However, a rash is not always present, particularly in the early stages.

"It is surprising how often a parent, or a GP, says that they simply had a 'gut feeling' that something was seriously wrong with a baby or child presenting with early meningitis symptoms and 'trusting your instinct' is a sound recommendation if a child or young person seems to be deteriorating more quickly than might be expected from what, initially, appears to be a mild illness."

If you are concerned about symptoms of meningitis, call the Meningitis Research Foundation's freephone 24-hour helpline on 080 8800 3344 or log on to www.meningitis.org.

You can also receive symptoms information on your mobile by texting MRF to 82088.

If you think you have swine flu, contact the National Pandemic Flu Service on 0800 1 513 100 or log on to www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu