Team checks China's health

PNEUMONIA is the leading cause of death amongst Chinese children, according to a new study by Edinburgh University.

The illness accounts for 17 per cent of deaths in under-5s,

but the number of children who die before the age of five has dropped by 70 per cent since 1990.

The team predicts that complications caused by premature birth will soon become the leading cause of childhood death in China as increased access to treatment cuts deaths from pneumonia.

Harry Campbell, professor of genetic epidemiology and public health at Edinburgh University said: "China has been a "black box" regarding information on health problems, particularly children."