Press Information

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Anaphylaxis - Key information

• Food allergy occurs when the body’s immune system reacts to an ingredient that is harmless to most people. The food that causes the response is known as an allergen.

• Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction - the extreme end of the allergic spectrum. Symptoms may include generalised flushing, difficulty in breathing and can result in cardiac arrest and death.

• Common causes of anaphylaxis include foods such as peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, fish, shellfish, dairy products and eggs. Non-food causes include wasp or bee stings, natural latex (rubber), penicillin or any other drug or injection.

• Acute, severe food allergy is thought to affect half a million people.

• The prevalence of food allergy is at its highest in young children (about one in 17 children). In most cases the allergy is mild. Around 80-90 per cent of children outgrow their sensitivity by the age of five. Children are very likely to outgrow an allergy to milk, eggs, soy or wheat. Allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish or fish are less frequently outgrown.

• Research suggests that around one in 70 children across the UK are allergic to peanuts. A House of Commons report in 2004 suggests that the figure may now be as high as one in 50 – a quarter of a million children.

• Anaphylaxis is treated with adrenaline (which is also called epinephrine). Pre-loaded adrenaline injection kits – EpiPen or Anapen – are available on prescription for those thought to be at risk of a severe reaction.

• Allergic disorders affect all ages, both sexes and all social and ethnic groups in the UK.

• International comparisons show that the UK population has the highest prevalence of allergy in Europe and ranks among the highest in the world.

• Disease frequencies of the more serious and systemic allergies, e.g. anaphylaxis, drug and food allergy, are increasing fast

• The rise of allergic diseases over the last three decades cannot be reliably explained although a number of theories have been considered to do with changes in our environment as a consequence of increasing affluence and modern lifestyles

• Numbers of deaths due to allergy are difficult to assess. There is evidence that anaphylaxis causes some 10 to 20 deaths per year but many of these are not recorded as such on the death certificate.

The Anaphylaxis Campaign

About The Anaphylaxis Campaign – “helping people with severe allergies live their lives”

The Anaphylaxis Campaign is the only UK charity to exclusively meet the needs of the growing numbers of people at risk from severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) by providing information and support relating to foods and other triggers such as latex, drugs and insect stings.

Our ultimate aim is to create a safe environment for all people with severe allergy by educating the food industry, schools, pre-schools, colleges, health professionals and other key audiences.  Our focus is on medical facts, food labelling, risk reduction and allergen management.

The Campaign provides a wealth of freely available information and also offers tailored services for individual and corporate members