'Mother's instinct' saves baby Violet from meningococcal

The parents of a baby girl recovering from meningococcal disease have told 9NEWS how she went from having two tiny spots on her stomach, to being critically ill with and covered in a rash within a couple of hours.

Peter Duffield spoke exclusively to 9NEWS outside the Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide, where his daughter Violet remains in intensive care.

"They told us it was type B. Very traumatic ... it was very stressful," Mr Duffield, of Murray Bridge said.

"We're not going to lose our little baby girl thank goodness. It's all good now she's in recovery ... she's going to be ok."

Violet's mother Tiffany realised something was wrong on Tuesday while driving to Woomera, in South Australia's far north.

The normally bubbly seven-month-old was very sleepy and her lips were slightly off-colour.

Ms Henderson took Violet to the doctor, before she was rushed to Roxby Downs Hospital. It was there the red dots on her body first appeared.

"Within a couple of hours it went from one dot to all over her legs," Mr Duffield said.

Violet was immediately airlifted to Adelaide for treatment, where doctors have told the family they sought help just in time.

"Just mother's instinct I think, she just knew something wasn't right so she got onto it and lucky she did," her father added.

Health authorities have praised Ms Henderson's quick response, and are urging other parents to be vigilant.

"Meningococcal can go from healthy in the morning to being, sadly, dead in the evening and that's why acting fast helps to improve the outcome," South Australia's Chief Medical Officer Professor Paddy Phillips said.