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Some 75% of primary care nurses have not being given any training in potentially life-threatening allergic conditions, according to a survey.

Just 25% questioned by Nursing in Practice said they had been given any kind of allergy training and more than half said they felt uncomfortable working with patients with allergy-related conditions.

Allergic conditions range from hayfever and eczema to asthma and life-threatening anaphylactic shock.

Small amounts of allergens such as nuts, an insect sting or penicillin, can trigger the attacks.

The lack of trained practitioners is dispute the number of people with allergic conditions has trebling in the last 20 years in the UK.

John Collard, clinical director of charity Allergy UK, called for wider training of nurses in allergic conditions.

He said: "Training in 'general' allergy is difficult for nurses to access locally. The few nurses who have had training have normally done this in relation to a particular condition relating to allergy, such as asthma or eczema."

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