HOSPITAL admissions in England for people suffering allergic reactions and anaphylactic shock have risen by more than a third in five years.

There were 29,544 hospital admissions in 2015/16, up from 22,206 in 2011/12, according to figures from NHS Digital.

These consisted of 25,093 admissions for allergies and 4,451 for anaphylactic shock - an often life-threatening allergic reaction - compared with 18,471 allergy admissions and 3,735 for anaphylactic shock in 2011/12.

Dr Donald Hodge, from the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, told the BBC: “The fact that we’re living in a much cleaner world than 100 years ago is the main factor behind the rise in the number of admissions for allergies.”

This includes a “huge increase” in the number of referrals for children who have developed allergies, he added.

Allergies are able to take hold because people are not building up strong resistance to allergy-triggering substances such as bacteria, pollen and dust, doctors suggest.

A spokesman for AllergyUK said: “The latest surveys show that the rates of allergy are increasing throughout the world, affecting up to 30-35 per cent of people at some stage in their lives. This increase was initially seen in countries such as the UK, Europe and USA, but can now be found in all countries undergoing industrial development.

“The pattern of allergy is also changing – initially, the increase was in asthma and allergic rhinitis (hay fever). However, recent studies have confirmed a significant increase in the incidence of food allergies, in particular amongst children. In the UK, it is estimated that up to 50 per cent of children are diagnosed with an allergic condition.”

The shocking figures come as the town’s two ASDAs called on shoppers to return their tiger sausage rolls six packs because they contain milk which is not declared within the ingredients list. This means the product is a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk.

A Food Standards Agency spokesman said: “ASDA is recalling the above product from customers and has contacted the relevant allergy support organisations, which will tell their members about the recall. The company has also issued a point-of-sale notice to its customers. These explain to customers why the product is/products are being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product.”