VICTIMS of allergic reaction need suffer in silence no longer.

It can be anything from a running nose and itchy eyes to a life-threatening reaction, but suffering from an allergy has become a common problem.

Allergy Awareness Week started yesterday with health organisations and charities aiming to raise awareness about allergies and the difficulties they cause for sufferers.

Springtime causes particular problems as pollen is on the risen from March to September, and only last week Bolton fell into the 'high' pollen levels category calculated by the Met Office.

According to the Met Office's Pollen Forecast statistics, one in five Brits suffer from hayfever and as Bolton is home to approximately 280,400 residents it could mean that around 56,080 people in the area will suffer over allergy season.

Experts are also highlighting the fact that allergies are on the rise with an estimated 21 million UK adults now suffering from at least one allergy.

But that has not stopped sufferers in the UK being subjected to harmful judgements from the public due to the misunderstanding of their condition, according to research conducted by leading national charity Allergy UK.

The charity has been supporting allergy sufferers for 25 years and believes that despite greater awareness, common misconceptions still remain as strong as a quarter of a century ago.

Lindsey McManus, deputy CEO of Allergy UK, said: "Not only is an allergic reaction terrifying, it is very real and can be serious. If someone fails to recognise the symptoms and take it seriously, the consequences could be fatal.

"Imagine never dining out because you fear the restaurant might inadvertently put your life at risk by serving food you are allergic to – or caring for your new born baby, who is constantly screaming in pain due to an allergic reaction to cow’s milk."

In research conducted by the charity it found that of 41 percent of those surveyed, who either have an allergy or have children who have allergic disease, almost half feel their allergies have not been taken seriously or have been dismissed when speaking about it.

A further 39 percent said they have had their allergy dismissed at work, followed by 35 percent within the home and 33 percent at a restaurant.

It also revealed that almost a third of individuals surveyed without the condition admit they are sceptical when someone says they suffer from an allergy.

Despite the fact that allergy can be a chronic and life-threatening condition, 40 percent said they don’t think allergy is a valid reason to be off work and almost one in ten, or over 4.4 million people in Britain do not consider an allergy to be a serious medical condition.

"Our research shows the extent of the misunderstanding surrounding allergy in 2016," Lindsey added.

"Despite the progress made over the last 25 years in allergy awareness, these new results highlight that the condition is still not understood by the general public and attitudes haven’t moved with the times.

"These misconceptions and harmful judgements are often more difficult for the UK’s 21 million allergy sufferers to live with than the practical aspects of managing the condition."

The research also revealed a knowledge gap in the public understanding of what constitutes ‘allergy’.

Allergy UK warns that these misconceptions are not only unfair to those coping with allergy but also potentially dangerous.

Allergic disease is potentially fatal, with hospital admissions in England for allergic reactions soaring to more than 20,000 each year and more than 60 percent of these are emergencies.

In the last decade, food allergies have doubled, and the number of hospitalisations caused by severe allergic reactions has increased seven-fold with a 615 percent increase in admissions for anaphylaxis, the most serious type of allergic reaction.

Endless things can trigger an allergic reaction, but the most common causes include certain foods, especially peanuts, tree nuts and shellfish, bee and wasp stings and certain drugs.

In most allergic reactions, allergens in the offending substance lead to the release of chemicals - like histamine - into the tissues in a particular part of the body, like the skin or eyes. As a result, symptoms, such as a skin rash, or red, itchy eyes, are usually seen in this area.

But in anaphylaxis, the chemicals are released into the bloodstream, causing serious symptoms very quickly.

Like all reactions, anaphylaxis can occur out of the blue - and it's a medical emergency, causing severe breathing difficulties, a drop in blood pressure and swelling of the face and airways.

The main symptoms may occur alongside milder reactions, such as a red, raised and itchy rash, and while a reaction is usually classed as anaphylactic when the lungs, heart rhythm or blood pressure are affected, there may be other signs too.

For example, if someone starts vomiting after an insect sting, it can be the first indicator of anaphylaxis, because the sting has led to the release of chemicals which have travelled to the gut, and the vomiting may herald a more severe, widespread reaction.

In cases where an anaphylactic attack is taking place an ambulance should be called - even if an adrenaline injection has been given - and the person who has had the anaphylactic reaction should lie down, to help maintain blood pressure.

Once in hospital, other medication, including oxygen, fluids, anti-histamines and corticosteroids, may be administered.

Deaths from anaphylaxis are extremely rare, occurring when medication is given too late or isn't available at all.

For Allergy Awareness Week, Allergy UK is calling for better public awareness of the condition to help more people recognise the true symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Allergy Awareness Week runs until May 1. To find out more visit www.allergyuk.org.