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Babies exposed to passive smoking are at risk of catching meningitis and scepticaemia 

A third of babies whose parents smoke at home end up in hospital before their first birthday, researchers say.

They found that passive smoking weakens youngsters' immune systems and puts them at higher risk of potentially lethal infectious diseases such as blood poisoning and meningitis.

Children are most vulnerable in the first few months of life, especially babies of low birthweight or those born prematurely.

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