UNICEF lists the top causes of child deaths

UNICEF's recent announcement that the number of deaths of children under 5 dropped below 10 million for the first time has been widely publicised.

Less widely reported is the list of reasons for the 9.7 million child deaths which did occur in 2006:

1 NEONATAL CAUSES - 3.6 million perished in the first four weeks after birth due to complications from premature birth, severe infections, birth asphyxia, birth defects, tetanus, diarrhea-related diseases and other causes.

2. PNEUMONIA - About 1.8 million children died of pneumonia, an inflammation of the lung generally caused by an infection that is marked by a cough and difficult breathing. It kills more children than any other single disease. A number of different organisms can cause it including bacteria, viruses and fungi.

3. DIARRHEA - About 1.6 million children died from diarrheal illnesses. Severe diarrhea can cause fluid loss. It is life-threatening in children who are malnourished or have impaired immunity. Diarrhea often is caused by viruses, bacteria and parasites.

4. MALARIA - Malaria killed about 780,000 children under 5 in 2006.

5. OTHERS - Measles killed 390,000 children under 5 in 2006; AIDS killed 290,000. UNICEF also said inadequate nutrition can be considered an underlying cause in about half of the worldwide deaths under age 5.

Read more on the UNICEF website.