There were 1779 admissions for anaphylaxis in 2003/04 to hospitals in England. Admission rates for anaphylaxis, though relatively low in number, have risen 7-fold from 5 per million of population in 1990/91 to 36 per million in 2003/04 and this is reflected in all age groups. Any trend in admissions can reflect various factors but a rise of this extent, together with rises in other allergic admissions, suggests an increase in the incidence of anaphylaxis over this period.