The true scale of the allergy epidemic is revealed in the British Airborne Allergy Report commissioned by air purification specialists Fellowes, in association with national charity Allergy UK.
Hay fever is revealed as one of the most debilitating allergies. Two thirds (66 per cent) of parents whose children suffer from hay fever, claim their youngsters' childhoods have been damaged as a result.
One in eight parents say symptoms have made their child's life a misery or stopped them going to school (13 per cent), while one in ten (nine per cent) struggle to leave the house during the summer.
Another nine per cent say airborne allergies, like hay fever, have stopped youngsters pursuing hobbies and six per cent regularly have to miss sports.
And symptoms don't ease in adulthood. Almost half (46 per cent) of adult sufferers have missed out on major life events like weddings because of hay fever. While one in ten (10 per cent) suffered depression and one in four (25 per cent), exhaustion.
According to the British Airborne Allergy report, which gathered the opinions of more than 2,000 people nationwide, two thirds of all sufferers take medication to try and provide some kind of relief. And the cost of treating allergies is huge - with British sufferers set to spend a staggering £384 million on treatments this year alone.
But despite often serious consequences, less than half of all adults (43 per cent) have received a formal diagnosis from a medical professional, opting for self-diagnosis instead.
More than a quarter (28 per cent) say they can't sleep and a fifth (19 per cent) actively dread the summer months because of pollen. Investing in an air purifier is the most common line of defence in the home.
Speaking about the findings, Fellowes spokesman, Mike Booth said: "We know summer is set to be a bad time for all of those struggling to cope with hay fever - with high predicted pollen rates and periods of low air quality, and we need to be better prepared for that. This isn't a problem that is going away, especially as we are seeing an increasing number of children and babies affected.
"There are ways people can protect themselves. People are suffering unnecessarily indoors as our AeraMax™ range of air purifiers are scientifically proven to remove more than 99 per cent of harmful indoor airborne particles - like pollen - to make breathing easier and reduce symptoms."
Allergy UK spokesperson, Lindsey McManus, Deputy CEO of Allergy UK, agrees. As she says, ignoring symptoms can impact on health and wellbeing.
Lindsey explains: "Britain has one of the highest allergy rates in the world and what this research makes very clear is the serious effect they have on our health.
"Coping with respiratory allergies such as asthma, hay fever and allergic rhinitis requires a good allergen management plan. The correct use of medication is vitally important and we would advise sufferers to discuss this with their GP or pharmacist but also to consider all allergen avoidance options - from air purifiers to changing soft furnishings and furniture, as part of their management plan."
The report was commissioned in line with the launch of Fellowes AeraMax™ range of air purifiers, which are scientifically proven to reduce exposure to allergens and is endorsed by Allergy UK.
As well as its high performance features, the AeraMax™ boasts a sensor which monitors air quality and automatically adjusts the fan speed to keep air purified to help reduce the severity of a reaction. Its Aera+™ Mode is designed for peak allergy conditions and can increase airflow by up to 50% depending on the size of model
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