Huge Rise in Children Hospitalised with Severe Allergic Reactions

The number of cases of children hospitalised with severe allergic reactions in England has increased by 72 per cent over the last six years, according to new NHS Digital data.

The figures obtained by The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation record 1746 cases of hospital admissions with anaphylactic shock among those aged 18 and under in 2018-19, compared to 1015 in 2013-14.

Overall, including adults, there has been a 34% rise in admissions over the same period.

The figures reveal wide regional differences among children admitted to hospital with anaphylaxis. The health region with the highest increase is London where the , number of cases has risen by 167% from 180 in 2013-14 to 480 in 2018-19. Among those ten and under, the increase is a staggering 200 per cent.

Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, of the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, said: “These terrifying figures show we are facing an allergy emergency. The number of children with allergies and suffering severe allergic reactions is rising year-on-year at a deeply alarming rate.

“Scientists don’t yet understand why the numbers of children with allergies are on the rise which is why it is vital that we invest in large scale research projects into both the causes and potential cures.”

Professor Hasan Arshad, Chair in Allergy and Clinical Immunology at Southampton University, said: “These figures confirm what we know is a worrying increase in severe food allergy. We should not forget that behind each of these numbers is a child or adult who has suffered the most severe consequences of an anaphylactic shock. For far too long allergies have been considered a minor inconvenience. It is time for us all to focus on preventing and curing allergy.”

Allergy Statistics from NHS Digital

The East Midlands region recorded the second highest increase in children hospitalised - up by 146%. Third came the East of England where the rise was 84% followed by the West Midlands (59%), North West (56%), Yorkshire and The Humber (50%), South West (24%), South East (22%). In the North East the number of admissions remained static.

Tanya and her husband Nadim set up NARF following the death of their 15-year-old daughter Natasha, who died after suffering a severe allergic reaction after eating a Pret a Manger baguette containing hidden sesame seeds in July 2016. Since her death, the government has introduced Natasha’s Law forcing food-to-go shops to provide full ingredient labelling. The Foundation’s stated aim is to fund and support research into curing allergies.