Why Do I Have an Itchy Throat?

Allergy

One of the main causes of itchy throat is an allergic reaction. The most common symptoms of allergy include runny nose, sneezing, itchy and watery eyes. The main allergy triggers are dust, food items, pollen and animal dander. Environmental factors also contribute to the scratching of throat. These may include:

• Exposure to harmful chemicals

• Pesticides

• Smoking

• Traffic fumes

Infections

Throat infections (bacterial, viral, fungal) are yet another common cause of scratchy throat. People who feel clueless about the question like ‘why does my throat itch’, are often diagnosed with some throat infection. Any individual (healthy or weak) can get affected by these infections. Infection, viral or bacterial, starts from an itch in throat that later turns into severer throat conditions. How would you identify each infection? Here are the different types:

(a). Viral infection: Itching of throat that results from a viral infection tends to infect your upper respiratory tract. Itch is accompanied with soreness of throat. Flu, common cold, measles, mumps and chickenpox are the most frequent viral ailments that may cause an itchy throat.

Note: Avoid aspirin for curing a viral infection.

(b). Bacterial infection: Also known as strep throat, bacterial infection tends to affect your tonsils (common among kids), leaving them with white streaks of puss. Other symptoms include swollen tonsils, irritation of throat and smelly mouth. Bacterial infections are normally cured by antibiotics. A prolonged bacterial infection can turn into chronic pharyngitis. That’s a severe condition that may result in fever and inflammation of throat. This must be treated after consulting an ENT specialist.

(c). Fungal Infection: A fungal infection is also known as oral thrush. Candida or some other type of fungi may cause it in throat or mouth. The main symptoms include—pain while swallowing and fever. Diabetic people with lower immunity are more likely to be the victim of it. For treating it, pills containing nystatin are the best recommendation.

(d). Croup: It’s a common throat infection among children. It may result from both viral and bacterial exposure. Other symptoms besides itchy throat include severe bark-like cough.

Dehydrated Membrane

Mucosal membrane is a substance that coats the inner walls of our throat. This membrane consists of nerves. If irritated when exposed to polluted air, unsuitable food, alcohol, caffeine and cigarette, this substance dries out leaving you with scratchy throat. Continuous intake of water seems the only immediate solution.

Dry Throat

Why does my throat itch and feel dry? That’s another common question we are often asked. Other than dehydration, there are an array of reasons that tend to dry your throat and cause itch. Here are a few of them:

• Breathing through mouth

• Exposure to cold windy air

• Indoor air conditioning and heating

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

This may cause irritation in throat when the contents lying deep in your stomach float towards your esophagus. Sour burps and heartburn are the most common symptoms with it.

Some other Medical Conditions

An itchy throat may also be the result of many other medical conditions. But an itchy throat is just a secondary symptom. All these ailments have numerous primary symptoms too. These conditions may include:

• Thyroid diseases

• Asthma

• Tuberculosis

• A chronic cough

• ACE inhibitors (medication for heart disease and blood pressure)

• Bronchial and gastric endoscopy may cause soreness and itch for a few days after the treatment.

• Drinking water is recommended not only for getting rid of that dryness but water also helps in overcoming the dehydration resulted from excessive secretion of bodily fluids (runny nose, sweating from fever).

• Gargling with warm water with salt added in it, is considered best for cutting that layer of phlegm that causes irritation in your throat. Repeat the same process for 2 to 3 times in a day.

• For gargling, Listerine too is a proven trick.

• Eating honey, one tbsp. each morning is really good for an itchy palate. Prefer raw honey.

Note: This is not a suitable option for the infants under 12 months.

Don’t waste your time in thinking ‘why does my throat itch’, opting for honey, ginger and lemon tea is one of the best option to go with. Intake it three times a day, minimum.

To get rid of the allergy buildup, particularly resulted from pollen, you are advised to clean your tongue and the back of the throat each time you brush your teeth.

• One of the oldest and most recommended cure is a regular intake of warm milk with one tsp. of turmeric in it.

• Herbal candy (horehound) helps in soothing the itch.

• Hot lemonade with the addition of honey does the trick.

• Lastly, lozenges are proven to give a timely relief to the throat itch.

When to See a Doctor

Strep throat or tonsillitis are the most severe conditions that can’t be cured without some antibiotics. Besides that, if the symptoms persist for more than a week, you are advised to see the doctor. The symptoms to look for are:

• High fever

• Severe cough with blood

• Painful swallowing condition

• Throat lump

• Pain in the chest

• Sweating in the night

• Unwanted weight loss

• Difficulty in breathing