Handedness and Allergic Response

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Abstract
Previous reports have linked nonright-handedness with allergies including hay fever, asthma, eczema and urticaria. The present study examined reactions to 20 common allergens (e.g., food, animal fur, dust, drugs, etc.) in a sample of 430 subjects. Individuals who were left-handed or not consistently righthanded showed an elevated frequency of allergic reactions. The criteria used to determine handedness and the existence of allergies are both important factors. The stringent criterion of consistent righthandedness versus nonright-handedness was a more sensitive measure in detecting allergic individuals than was the simple dichotomy of left- versus right-handed. The association with handedness was stronger for individuals with more than one allergy.