As you're reading this are you suffering with a runny nose, an itchy throat, sore eyes; maybe you live with eczema or have an annoying skin rash that flares up every so often? Perhaps you carry an epipen because an allergic reaction to something is life-threatening for you? Well, you're most definitely not alone. 1 in 3 UK adults currently experience allergic reactions at some point during their lifetime and the numbers have been rising at an alarming rate...

* Peanut or tree nut allergy now runs at 1 in 70 kids, versus 1 in 250 in 1997
* Food allergy anaphylaxis increased by 5.7% between 1998 and 2018
* US hospital admissions for asthma tripled between 1970 and 1990
* Every two hours in the US someone is admitted to hospital with a severe allergic reaction
* There are under 20 trained allergic specialists in the UK - the field is tiny for a growing epidemic
* Allergy UK are campaigning to introduce an allergy nurse and dietitian within all GP practices

Allergies are a complex and under-funded area of medicine, and there are few books out there to support families and patients. This book will provide them with the answers and information that they need, while making the existing science accessible and easy to understand. Journalist Rebecca Seal has interviewed a wide range of clinical experts about the most recent developments in understanding and treating allergies, as well as parents, young people and children about their experiences of living with allergies.

Irritated gives an overview of allergies, their symptoms and how they affect the body and looks at why they have become so prevalent in recent years. Rebecca writes about the difference between allergies and intolerances, the role of gut health in the development of allergies, the different types of allergy (food, skin, environmental, chemical) and offers up practical strategies for symptom management including tips, natural remedies and when to seek medical help.