The correct answer is option C. pandemics and high infant mortality.
The most common causes of death in stage 2 of the epidemiologic transition are typically related to infectious diseases and high infant mortality. Therefore, option C, "pandemics and high infant mortality," accurately describes the prevailing health challenges during this stage.
In stage 2, societies experience improvements in sanitation, nutrition, and medical care, leading to a decline in infectious diseases. However, high birth rates persist, contributing to a significant proportion of deaths being infants, often due to infections and inadequate healthcare. Pandemics, resulting from infectious diseases that spread rapidly across populations, are also notable causes of mortality during this stage.