Most Common Deadly Diseases In Children. Cystic fibrosis (cf) remains the most common fatal inherited disease among caucasians. Pneumonia is the leading infectious cause of death among children under 5, killing approximately 800,000.
As diarrhea results in massive fluid loss, the most important facet in helping children recover is to keep them hydrated, otherwise seizures, brain damage, and death may occur. Scarlet fever (also known as scarlatina) used to be one of the most serious and deadly diseases of childhood. Pneumonia is the leading infectious cause of death among children under 5, killing approximately 800,000.