What Causes An Itchy Throat And How To Treat It

  references
  
      Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry: “What Are Possible Sources of Indoor Air Pollution?”
    
      American Lung Association: “Indoor Air Pollutants and Health”
    
      Environmental Protection Agency: “Improving Indoor Air Quality”
    
      American Lung Association: “Protecting Yourself from Air Pollution at Home”
    
      Mayo Clinic: “Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)”
    
      Cleveland Clinic: “Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR)”
    
      World Allergy Organization: “Constant Itchy Throat with Cough”
    
      AARP:” Do You Have a Cough That Won't Go Away?”

Is this an emergency? If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the National Library of Medicine’s list of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911.

Allergies — which unfortunately can occur in all four seasons — are a prime culprit for why your throat may feel itchy.

Image Credit: frantic00/iStock/GettyImages

Seasonal Allergies
Food Allergies
Inhaling Irritants
Common Cold
Acid Reflux
Smoker
Medication Side Effect
When to See a Doctor

Fix it: The best defense against an itchy throat (and other symptoms) is to avoid the allergens. “However, this is not always possible because the particles are microscopic and in the air,” Dr. Voigt says. “Antihistamines [in the form of oral medication or nasal sprays] are a good first-line therapy to prevent the [allergic] reaction,” Dr. Voigt says. For long-term management, you might even consider allergy immunotherapy, i.e., “allergy shots.” Most importantly, don’t just ignore your itchy throat or grin and bear it. “An untreated or severe allergy can also cause swelling in the lungs or allergic asthma, and people with this may need to use steroid inhalers and bronchodilators,” Dr. Voigt explains.

“Antihistamines [in the form of oral medication or nasal sprays] are a good first-line therapy to prevent the [allergic] reaction,” Dr. Voigt says. For long-term management, you might even consider allergy immunotherapy, i.e., “allergy shots.”

Most importantly, don’t just ignore your itchy throat or grin and bear it. “An untreated or severe allergy can also cause swelling in the lungs or allergic asthma, and people with this may need to use steroid inhalers and bronchodilators,” Dr. Voigt explains.

Left untreated, a food allergy can be very dangerous. “A food allergy can trigger an extreme reaction called anaphylaxis, and this can be deadly,” Dr. Voigt says. If you experience any of the above symptoms, stop eating the food immediately and seek medical attention. For these potentially life-threatening situations, you may be prescribed an emergency medication such as an EpiPen, an injection of epinephrine used to treat very serious allergic reactions.

If you experience any of the above symptoms, stop eating the food immediately and seek medical attention. For these potentially life-threatening situations, you may be prescribed an emergency medication such as an EpiPen, an injection of epinephrine used to treat very serious allergic reactions.

Fix it: “If a person senses an itchy throat after eating an item, they should avoid that food and see an allergist for testing [right away],” Dr. Voigt says. The major food allergens include milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame seeds, according to the FDA. If you have a known food allergy, make sure to always check the ingredients on foods you eat and carry an EpiPen, Dr. Voigt says.

The major food allergens include milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame seeds, according to the FDA.

If you have a known food allergy, make sure to always check the ingredients on foods you eat and carry an EpiPen, Dr. Voigt says.

Fix it: “Obviously, you want to avoid air like this, so if you find yourself in poor air quality, you should try to get to an area with clean fresh air,” Dr. Voigt says. “If that is not possible, wearing a respirator to filter the air is helpful, as well as wearing a mask.” But what about indoor air quality in your home? To reduce irritants and pollutants inside your house, keep your space well-ventilated (but only crack open windows if the outdoor air quality is good) and invest in an air cleaner with a HEPA filter, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Other helpful tips for keeping your indoor air fresh, per the ALA:

Don’t smoke inside your domicile since smoke contains toxic and carcinogenic chemicals that diminish indoor air quality Use a dehumidifier to keep humidity levels in check as high humidity encourages the growth of mold and other pollutants Keep food stored away, cover trash and use baits to prevent pests like mice and cockroaches, which may produce allergens that can become airborne Skip scented candles, which involve combustion and create smoke particles that contribute to poor air quality Use nontoxic cleaning and household products that are less likely to irritate your throat and lungs

But what about indoor air quality in your home? To reduce irritants and pollutants inside your house, keep your space well-ventilated (but only crack open windows if the outdoor air quality is good) and invest in an air cleaner with a HEPA filter, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Other helpful tips for keeping your indoor air fresh, per the ALA:

Don’t smoke inside your domicile since smoke contains toxic and carcinogenic chemicals that diminish indoor air quality
Use a dehumidifier to keep humidity levels in check as high humidity encourages the growth of mold and other pollutants
Keep food stored away, cover trash and use baits to prevent pests like mice and cockroaches, which may produce allergens that can become airborne
Skip scented candles, which involve combustion and create smoke particles that contribute to poor air quality
Use nontoxic cleaning and household products that are less likely to irritate your throat and lungs

Fix it: “A person suffering with these symptoms should seek out medical care and have testing done for viruses and bacteria,” Dr. Voigt says. “The treatment, in general, includes supportive therapy such as hydration, antipyretics [i.e., medicines used to reduce fever], anti-inflammatory medications and antiviral or antibiotic therapy depending on the culture results,” he says.

“The treatment, in general, includes supportive therapy such as hydration, antipyretics [i.e., medicines used to reduce fever], anti-inflammatory medications and antiviral or antibiotic therapy depending on the culture results,” he says.

Fix it: Certain lifestyle modifications may help to mitigate or minimize acid reflux. For example, “avoiding large meals, spicy or acidic foods, caffeine as well as late night eating can limit reflux,” Dr. Voigt says. If these lifestyle changes don’t do the trick to temper your symptoms, speak with your doctor. “There are medications to decrease stomach acid such as anti-acids, antihistamines and proton pump inhibitors,” Dr. Voigt says. What’s more, people dealing with obesity are more prone to GERD problems, so discussing healthy weight-loss options with your healthcare provider may also be helpful to hinder recurrent reflux.

If these lifestyle changes don’t do the trick to temper your symptoms, speak with your doctor. “There are medications to decrease stomach acid such as anti-acids, antihistamines and proton pump inhibitors,” Dr. Voigt says.

What’s more, people dealing with obesity are more prone to GERD problems, so discussing healthy weight-loss options with your healthcare provider may also be helpful to hinder recurrent reflux.

Fix it: The solution is simple: Kick the habit. Still, we know quitting can be very challenging. If you need help, the ALA’s Freedom From Smoking program is a great place to start.

Fix it: “If a person develops throat symptoms after starting a new medication, they should call their healthcare provider and discuss this,” Dr. Voigt says. Your doctor may lower your dosage or prescribe you another drug.

      Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry: “What Are Possible Sources of Indoor Air Pollution?”
    
      American Lung Association: “Indoor Air Pollutants and Health”
    
      Environmental Protection Agency: “Improving Indoor Air Quality”
    
      American Lung Association: “Protecting Yourself from Air Pollution at Home”
    
      Mayo Clinic: “Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)”
    
      Cleveland Clinic: “Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR)”
    
      World Allergy Organization: “Constant Itchy Throat with Cough”
    
      AARP:” Do You Have a Cough That Won't Go Away?”