One in 10 people diagnosed with a sudden allergy to certain foods suffer life-threatening shock symptoms, according to a health ministry survey report made available over the weekend.

The finding is based on a survey of patients diagnosed with so-called immediate food allergy, which triggers an allergic reaction in sufferers within an hour of eating a particular food. Nearly 80 percent of the patients are children aged 6 and younger.

While other food allergies can produce a skin rash between 12 and 24 hours of eating, immediate food allergy can cause more serious symptoms, including impaired consciousness and low blood pressure.