You can’t scratch the inside of your throat — but sometimes it gets dog-gone itchy. Almost everyone has had the experience of an irritating itchy feeling inside your throat. It can be caused by a variety of things. To solve the puzzle, it’s helpful to look at symptoms that come along with an itchy throat.
Causes
Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) is one of the most common causes of itchy throats. The histamine reaction can make your throat feel irritated. Other common allergy triggers are pollen, dander, dust, and irritants such as cigarette smoke or exhaust fumes.
Itchy throats caused by allergies may be accompanied by:
- sinus pressure
- runny or stuffy nose
- itchy eyes and skin
- sneezing
- tiredness
- swollen, red, or watery eyes
Food and drug allergies can also cause an itchy throat. The allergy may be mild, ending with an itchy throat or mouth. But they can also be life-threatening, so care is needed. Common trigger foods include peanuts, shellfish, eggs, milk, and wheat. Many people have allergies to certain medications including penicillin and other antibiotics. Some medications cause dry coughs and itchy throats even if you aren’t allergic to them. People taking ACE inhibitors for high blood pressure should know that they can cause an itchy throat and dry cough.
When caused by food or drug allergies, itchy throats may come with:
- hives
- redness of skin around the eyes
- itchy ears
- nausea and vomiting
- diarrhea
- stomach pain
- swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat
- trouble breathing or swallowing
- sense of doom
- drop in blood pressure
- loss of consciousness
Strep throat, tonsillitis, and viruses may start with an itchy throat before progressing to a sore one. If it is just a cold, the itchy throat likely won’t progress beyond mildly sore. If a person has a flu infection, their throat will be more severe and accompanied by fever, body aches, and chest discomfort. If the itchy throat is caused by an acute illness, it will probably be short-lived and accompanied by a combination of the following symptoms:
- fever
- swollen glands
- muscle aches
- weakness
- headache
- cough
- nasal congestion
Dehydration is common during hot weather, after exercise, or during illness, and can make your throat feel itchy. When the itchy throat is caused by dehydration, other symptoms can include
- extreme thirst
- dry mouth
- infrequent dark urine
Heartburn can cause an itch. Some people have a condition called silent reflux and may only notice a chronic, itchy throat as a symptom. But this is the exception. Normally, reflux or heartburn comes along with:
- difficulty or pain when swallowing
- burning sensation in chest or throat
- gas
- inflamed voice box
- worn down tooth enamel
- inflamed gums
- bad taste in mouth
What To Do About It
A doctor does not always need to examine an itchy throat. Many times, home treatments are effective. How to best treat an itchy throat depends on what is causing it. Here there are some tried and tested remedies that may help:
- a spoonful of honey to coat the throat
- salt water gargles
- lozenges and cough drops
- nasal spray
- hot tea with lemon and honey
- over-the-counter allergy or cold medications
- nasal sprays
There are also steps you can take to avoid getting an itchy throat in the first place. If you smoke, try to quit. Drink plenty of water, especially in hot weather. Avoid drinking caffeine and alcohol, which can irritate your throat.
If your symptoms last for more than 10 days, get worse, or don’t respond to self-care, you should see a doctor. Get help immediately if your itchy throat comes with trouble breathing, wheezing, hives, swelling in the face, a severe sore throat, fever, or difficulty swallowing.