More people than ever are being admitted to hospital because of allergic reactions, Government statistics have revealed. There were 20,320 allergy-related hospital admissions between February 2013 and February 2014 – a rise of nearly eight per cent on the previous 12 months.

The rate of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) resulting in hospital admissions rose by 9.9 per cent, and amounted for one in five of all cases, while admissions for allergic rhinitis were up by 11 per cent. The Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) data also included prescribing information, showing that one emergency adrenaline product for the treatment of anaphylaxis was dispensed per 283 people on average. Regional variations in both admission and prescribing rates were recorded, with Birmingham and the Black Country Area Team noting the highest levels of allergy admissions, while the highest number of adrenalin products were dispensed in Surrey and Sussex.