Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAllergies and Dry ThroatTypes of AllergiesTreatmentWhen to See a ProviderOther Causes
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Allergies and Dry Throat
Types of Allergies
Treatment
When to See a Provider
Other Causes
Learn more about allergies and dry throat in this article.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
How Allergies Cause Dry Throat
Overproduction of Mucus
Exposure to allergens can trigger mucus build-up (congestion) in the nose and sinuses. The mucus then drains down the throat (post-nasal drip). This sinus drainage can cause a dry, sore throat.
Increased Airflow
The congestion associated with allergies can make it difficult to breathe through your nose. Chronic mouth breathing, especially if the air is dry, can cause a dry throat.
Types of Allergies That Cause Dry Throat
Hay Fever
The term “hay fever” is a bit misleading since fever isn’t one of the symptoms of this condition. Hay fever is also called allergic rhinitis because it includes a variety of symptoms that affect your nose.
Symptoms can include:
Postnasal drip occurs when excess mucus drains from your sinuses and nasal passageways into the back of your throat. This can lead to the feeling of dryness or scratchiness, and it often makes you feel like you constantly need to clear your throat.
Environmental Allergens
These can include:
Is Your Dry Throat Due to Allergies or COVID-19?
Dry throat can be a symptom of allergies or a virus like COVID-19 or the common cold. You may be able to tell the difference based on other symptoms you’re experiencing. The common cold and COVID-19, for example, don’t cause symptoms like itchy eyes and nose. Similarly, allergies don’t cause a fever.
Treating Allergies That Cause Dry Throat
Allergies—and the dry throat that accompanies them—can be treated with medications as well as home remedies and lifestyle changes.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines are a type of medication that blocks the effects of chemicals called histamines, which contribute to your dry nose and throat and other symptoms.
Common over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamine medications include:
More serious allergy symptoms might require prescription medication.
Decongestants
Lozenges and Cough Drops
Sucking on a lozenge, cough drop, or even a piece of hard candy increases saliva production. Young children should not be given these products because they can choke on them.This type of treatment directly targets your dry throat symptoms, rather than treating the underlying cause.
Liquids
A dry throat can be worse if you’re dehydrated. Drink plenty of fluids and monitor the color of your urine. If you’re drinking enough, it should be pale yellow.Include hot liquids, such as tea or broth-based soups, to help soothe your dry throat. Consider adding somehoneyto your tea to coat your throat.
Saltwater Gargle and Rinses
Salt watergargling and nasal rinses can help reduce swelling and excess mucus in the nose and back of your throat.Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm water and gargle (spit it out—don’t swallow). Repeat several times a day while you’re having symptoms.
Humidifiers and Purifiers
Using a cool mist vaporizer or humidifier adds moisture to the air you breathe.Place one in your bedroom to ease symptoms and improve your sleep. Air purifiers can also be used in your home to decrease airborne allergens and reduce allergy symptoms.
How to Choose the Right Humidifier for Your Needs
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Serious allergies might require you to see a specialist, such as an allergist, for medical treatment. Allergy testing can help identify exactly what is causing symptoms like dry throat. And, if you know what your trigger is, you might be able to decrease your exposure to your allergen and minimize your symptoms.
For ongoing allergy issues, allergy shots are sometimes used to gradually introduce small amounts of your specific allergen into your body to help reduce your sensitivity over time.
Other Causes of Dry Throat
Cold Weather
Sleep Issues
Breathing issues during sleep can cause a dry throat.
Acid Reflux
Common Cold
Thecommon coldcan cause throat dryness or irritation, along with other symptoms that also occur with allergies.However, the symptoms usually last for different amounts of time. The common cold typically resolves within a week, while allergy symptoms can last for months (or longer).
Anxiety
Dry mouth or throat can occur as a side effect of increased anxiety. Other common symptoms include fast heartbeat, trembling, dizziness, sweating, and shortness of breath.
Summary
A dry throat can occur with a variety of medical conditions, including allergies. Post-nasal drip and mouth breathing due to congestion can contribute to a dry, sore throat. See your healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause of your symptoms so you can get the right treatment.
17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Allergies and the immune system.Harvard Health Publishing.Treatments for post-nasal drip.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Hay fever.American Academy of Family Physicians.Allergic rhinitis (allergies).Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Air pollution and asthma.American Academy of Family Physicians.Antihistamines: understanding your OTC options.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.What are the best treatments for allergies?Penn Medicine.Sore throat.Harvard Health Publishing.When should I be concerned about the color of my urine?MedlinePlus.Saline nasal washes.American College of Emergency Physicians.Sore throat.Park KH, Sim DW, Lee SC, et al.Effects of air purifiers on patients with allergic rhinitis: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study.Yonsei Med J. 2020 Aug;61(8):689-697. doi:10.3349/ymj.2020.61.8.689American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Allergy shots (immunotherapy).Johns Hopkins Medicine.The dangers of uncontrolled sleep apnea.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage common cold.National Health Service.Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Allergies and the immune system.Harvard Health Publishing.Treatments for post-nasal drip.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Hay fever.American Academy of Family Physicians.Allergic rhinitis (allergies).Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Air pollution and asthma.American Academy of Family Physicians.Antihistamines: understanding your OTC options.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.What are the best treatments for allergies?Penn Medicine.Sore throat.Harvard Health Publishing.When should I be concerned about the color of my urine?MedlinePlus.Saline nasal washes.American College of Emergency Physicians.Sore throat.Park KH, Sim DW, Lee SC, et al.Effects of air purifiers on patients with allergic rhinitis: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study.Yonsei Med J. 2020 Aug;61(8):689-697. doi:10.3349/ymj.2020.61.8.689American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Allergy shots (immunotherapy).Johns Hopkins Medicine.The dangers of uncontrolled sleep apnea.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage common cold.National Health Service.Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Allergies and the immune system.Harvard Health Publishing.Treatments for post-nasal drip.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Hay fever.American Academy of Family Physicians.Allergic rhinitis (allergies).Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Air pollution and asthma.American Academy of Family Physicians.Antihistamines: understanding your OTC options.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.What are the best treatments for allergies?Penn Medicine.Sore throat.Harvard Health Publishing.When should I be concerned about the color of my urine?MedlinePlus.Saline nasal washes.American College of Emergency Physicians.Sore throat.Park KH, Sim DW, Lee SC, et al.Effects of air purifiers on patients with allergic rhinitis: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study.Yonsei Med J. 2020 Aug;61(8):689-697. doi:10.3349/ymj.2020.61.8.689American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Allergy shots (immunotherapy).Johns Hopkins Medicine.The dangers of uncontrolled sleep apnea.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage common cold.National Health Service.Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Allergies and the immune system.
Harvard Health Publishing.Treatments for post-nasal drip.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Hay fever.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Allergic rhinitis (allergies).
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Air pollution and asthma.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Antihistamines: understanding your OTC options.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.What are the best treatments for allergies?
Penn Medicine.Sore throat.
Harvard Health Publishing.When should I be concerned about the color of my urine?
MedlinePlus.Saline nasal washes.
American College of Emergency Physicians.Sore throat.
Park KH, Sim DW, Lee SC, et al.Effects of air purifiers on patients with allergic rhinitis: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study.Yonsei Med J. 2020 Aug;61(8):689-697. doi:10.3349/ymj.2020.61.8.689
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Allergy shots (immunotherapy).
Johns Hopkins Medicine.The dangers of uncontrolled sleep apnea.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage common cold.
National Health Service.Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
