Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat It MeansViral InfectionsStrep ThroatLaryngitisBronchitisDehydrationAcid RefluxHay FeverAsthmaCOVID-19Environmental IrritantsACE InhibitorsCertain CancersTreatmentSeeking Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What It Means
Viral Infections
Strep Throat
Laryngitis
Bronchitis
Dehydration
Acid Reflux
Hay Fever
Asthma
COVID-19
Environmental Irritants
ACE Inhibitors
Certain Cancers
Treatment
Seeking Medical Care
For some itchy throats, at-home remedies like gargling with salt water, resting your voice, and warm tea with honey may do the trick.Other times, you may need a more specific treatment, like an over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamine for allergies, or antacids for acid reflux. If the tickle in your throat is a chronic issue, be sure to visit your provider for an evaluation.
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What an Itchy Throat Means
In addition to a tickling or scratchy sensation in the throat, these conditions may also cause your throat to feel:
Coughingis another common symptom that often occurs alongside a tickle in the throat. Both of these symptoms are your body’s way of trying to expel irritants and mucus from your throat and chest and help you heal.The following conditions may cause them.
Viral infections, such as the common cold and flu, often cause a tickle in the throat. When you have a viral infection, themucus membranesin the back of your throat can get inflamed, leading to an itchy sensation.
During a viral infection, mucus membranes also tend to produce more mucus to help flush the virus out of the body. As that mucus drips down your throat (postnasal drip), it can tickle and irritate the throat tissues.
Viral infections can sometimes cause a dry throat, too. This often happens if your nose gets stuffy and causes you to breathe more through your mouth. The dryness in your throat and sinuses can make your throat tickle as well.
When the vocal cords get inflamed, they get itchy and ticklish. On top of that, inflammation of the larynx can disrupt the mucus membranes' ability to produce mucus, leading to a dry, scratchy, and hoarse throat. These sensations may trigger the cough reflex in some people, adding to the throat tickle.
The termbronchitisrefers to inflammation of the bronchial tubes, or the airways that carry air to and from the lungs. There aretwo types of bronchitis:
In some cases, bronchial tube inflammation and excessive mucus production can lead to dry airways. This, too, can create a dry or scratchy tickle in the throat.
Dehydration happens when your body loses more fluids than it takes in, reducing its ability to carry out normal functions. You might become dehydrated if you:
Dehydration can cause a tickle in the throat for a few reasons. It can dry out mucus membranes and decrease saliva production, creating a tickle in your throat.
Acid reflux, or heartburn, occurs when acid and other contents flow back up from the stomach into the esophagus. This can cause burning, irritation, and a tickling sensation in the back of the throat, along with coughing, wheezing, and difficulty swallowing.
Gastroesophagealreflux disease(GERD) is related to acid reflux, but not the same. GERD is a more severe and chronic form of acid reflux that can lead to serious and even life-threatening complications. Like acid reflux, a tickle in the throat is a common GERD symptom.
A tickle in the throat is a common symptom ofhay fever. Also known as allergic rhinitis, hay fever occurs when the immune system overreacts to allergens in the environment, such as pollen, dust mites, and pet dander.
When you have hay fever, your immune system releases chemicals called histamines that cause inflammation and irritation in response to the allergen. This inflammation can create a tickling or scratchy sensation in the throat.
Asthmais a long-term condition that causes the airways in the lungs to become inflamed. During an asthma attack (a worsening of asthma symptoms), you may experience a tickle in the throat, as well as coughing, shortness of breath, and chest pain.
A persistent dry cough and tickle in the throat have been reported among some people with COVID-19. These symptoms have also been reported in people withpost-COVID syndrome, in which there are lingering effects on organs after being sick with COVID. It’s still unknown exactly why this happens, but research is ongoing.
Environmental irritants, such as tobacco smoke and pollutants, often cause irritation, scratchiness, and itchiness in the throat, as well as coughing. Both smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke can have this effect, but frequent smokers are especially likely to experience symptoms.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitorsare medications typically prescribed to lower blood pressure andtreat heart conditions. A dry cough and tickling sensation in the throat are some of the most common side effects of ACE inhibitors.
A tickle in the throat is unlikely to be a sign of cancer, but it can happen. Very rarely, a persistently hoarse voice and sore throat may be a symptom of esophageal, laryngeal, or hypopharyngeal cancer.
Other symptoms of these cancers to be aware of include:
How to Relieve a Tickle in the Throat
Some at-home remedies that can help you get rid of the tickle in your throat:
If the tickle in your throat is due to an underlying health condition, follow your healthcare provider’s instructions about how to treat it. Medicines that may help your itchy throat include:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Consider reaching out to a healthcare provider if your itchy throat and/or cough persist or get worse for more than a few weeks.
Go to the emergency room or call 911 if you have signs of a severe allergic reaction or another medical emergency alongside the tickle in your throat, such as:
You should also reach out to a healthcare provider if you have anysigns of throat cancer, such as:
Summary
A tickle in your throat can often be relieved with at-home remedies, such as honeyed tea, throat lozenges, and getting plenty of rest and fluids. If your symptoms are related to another health condition, such as allergies or asthma, you will need to reach out to a healthcare provider to treat the underlying cause.
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