20 shocking allergy statistics you need to know

Posted: 27th October 2021 | Posted by Costa

20 shocking allergy statistics you need to know

Whether we realise it or not, allergies are all around us. Friends, family, coworkers, and even random strangers you pass in the street could have their own allergy they’re dealing with. It could be a food allergy, a touch of hay fever, or something life-threatening.

You can never be too careful with them. In our blog, we’re always citing interesting statistics that shed light on this common condition. So we thought we’d compile some of them in one handy list! Here are some amazing and shocking allergy statistics you may not know about…

General allergy statistics

Let’s start with how common allergies can be:

• 44% of adults and 50% of children in the UK have one or more allergies.
• The number of people with allergies is rising by about 5% every year.
• Allergies cost the NHS around £900 million each year, mostly through prescriptions. This makes up 10% of GP’s prescription budget.
• Over 200,000 people have emergency adrenaline prescriptions (such as an EpiPen) for their allergies.

Food allergy statistics

Food allergies might be the most common ones you see in the news as they can unfortunately lead to death. They’re not to be taken lightly. Here are some stats you need to know:

• Roughly 2% of adults and 8% of children in the UK have a food allergy.
• In children, the most common fatal food allergy is cow’s milk. It can, in the worst cases, cause anaphylaxis.
• When it comes to cow’s milk allergies, it’s more prevalent in the UK than anywhere else in Europe.
• You don’t have to have the allergy yourself to suffer. Parents of children with food allergies reported being more stressed, anxious, and depressed than parents of children without a food allergy.

Allergic rhinitis statistics

Allergic rhinitis is the aggravation and inflammation of your nose from allergens. Hay fever and animal allergies are common examples of this.

• Allergic rhinitis is the most common form of rhinitis, affecting up to 40% of adults and 40% of children.
• 1 in 4 people in the UK has hay fever (around 16 million people).
• The number of people diagnosed with allergic rhinitis has trebled over the last 30 years.
• Up to 57% of adults and 88% of children with allergic rhinitis have reported having sleep problems as a result.

Skin condition statistics

With some allergies, symptoms appear on the skin in the form of rashes, hives, and multiple other signs. Here are some statistics about this common condition:

• There are 8 million people in the UK who suffer from some sort of skin condition.
• Up to 10% of adults and 20% of children suffer from eczema at some point in their lives.
• Speaking of eczema, it affects both sexes equally. You’ll likely notice it starting to flare up in the first few months of life.
• About 50% of children who have eczema in the first few months of life go on to develop another allergy by the age of 2.

Anaphylaxis statistics

Anaphylaxis is the worst-case scenario when it comes to allergies. It is often fatal. Here’s what you need to know about it:

• When it comes to anaphylaxis, the rate of hospital admissions is rising. In 2015-16, there were 4,479 admissions, compared to the 5,497 in 2018-19.
• Despite this increase, studies suggest that food-induced anaphylaxis deaths are falling.
• 1 in 5 people with allergies live in fear of death due to an anaphylactic shock.
• The prevalence of anaphylaxis-related deaths has led to some legal changes in the UK. The recently enacted Natasha’s Law introduces new rules for businesses selling pre-packaged food.

These statistics are just a small glimpse into the world of allergies and what it’s like to live with them. It isn’t all doom and gloom – it just means we should all be a little more careful in our lives. If you have any allergy concerns, it’s always best to speak to your GP or an allergy specialist.

When you have questions about your allergies, get in touch with one of the experts at the London Allergy and Immunology Centre. You can register as a new patient here or call us on 02031 433 449.