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• Meningitis risk rockets if you smoke near children 

Second-hand smoke leaves kids more prone to killer diseases such as meningitis, scientists say.

One in three babies raised within 10ft of cigarette fumes needs hospital treatment by their first birthday.

Those exposed in their first six months are 45 per cent likelier to be admitted with infections such as meningitis and septicaemia by the time they are eight. Smokers' kids are also at greater risk of respiratory ailments such as bronchitis, pneumonia and asthma.

But Hong Kong experts fear fumes also hit immune systems. Dr Catherine Mary Schooling said: "Second-hand smoke in early infancy increases severe infectious illnesses requiring hospital admission."

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