Can Allergies Make You Cough?

Coughing is a natural reflex that helps keep our airways clear by removing irritants, mucus, and foreign particles. While coughing occasionally is perfectly normal, it can also indicate sensitivity, especially for people with allergies.

Those with allergies may react strongly to everyday substances like pollen, dust mites, pet dander, or mold — which may lead to irritation in the airways. This irritation can trigger what are known as allergy-related coughs.

In this article, we’ll learn more about cough caused by allergies, how to differentiate it from other types, and ways to manage this condition.

Can Allergies Make You Cough?

Allergies can cause coughing in some individuals. When your immune system reacts to allergens such as pollen, dust mites, pet dander, or mold, it causes inflammation in your respiratory system. This inflammation leads to more mucus production and irritates your airways. As a result, you may cough as your body tries to clear the mucus and soothe your throat.

Post-nasal drip, which is a common allergy symptom, can also lead to a persistent cough. When mucus from your nasal passages drips down the back of your throat, it can irritate your airways and cause a nagging cough [*].

Other possible reasons behind a cough include asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and lung infections [*].

Related: Itchy Throat Cough: Causes and Treatment

How Do I Know if My Cough is from Allergies?

A doctor’s evaluation and diagnosis are the most accurate ways to pinpoint the underlying issue; however, paying attention to these clues may help you establish a pattern:

• Symptoms. Look for additional allergy symptoms such as sneezing, a runny or itchy nose, itchy eyes, or post-nasal drip. An allergy cough often comes with these symptoms.
• Triggers. Notice if your cough tends to occur in response to specific triggers like pollen, dust mites, pet dander, or mold. If your cough worsens whenever you’re indoors — particularly in areas like your bedroom or living room — dust mites could be the likely cause.
• Timing. Check if your cough is worse during certain seasons or in environments where allergens are more prevalent. For instance, if your cough is caused by seasonal allergies, you may notice increased coughing when pollen levels rise during the spring and fall.
• Duration. Allergic coughs may persist as long as you’re exposed to allergens and typically continue until the source of irritation is removed. Unlike coughs caused by infections, allergic coughs usually do not come with fever or significant physical illness. This is important, especially if your cough has lasted for weeks without improvement and lacks other symptoms of illness.

Is It an Allergy-Related Cough or Something Else?

Knowing the differences between an allergy-related cough and other conditions helps you get the right care. Allergies, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and bronchitis vary in their signs and symptoms, triggers, and how long they last.

Here are the differences:

	Allergy	GERD	Asthma	Bronchitis
Duration	Weeks or more	For individuals with well-managed asthma, the cough might be infrequent and short-lived, often occurring during or after an asthma trigger.	Can persist as long as acid reflux remains untreated or poorly managed.	Acute bronchitis typically lasts for a few weeks, often 1 to 3 weeks. Chronic bronchitis is long-term and can be persistent for months or even years.
Triggers	Seasonal allergens (tree, grass, and weed pollen), dust mites, pet dander, mold, air pollution, changes in weather	Allergens (dust mites, mold spores, pet dander), respiratory infections (colds and flu), cold air, physical activity, irritants	Can be triggered by several factors related to acid reflux like food and drinks, eating large meals, eating before bedtime, and stress	Respiratory infections (viruses), smoking, air pollution, chemicals, and other irritants
Fever	No	No	No	Yes

If coughing is not due to allergies or the other conditions listed above, other less common causes might include:

• Cystic fibrosis (a genetic disorder that leads to thick, sticky mucus buildup)
• Interstitial lung disease
• Sarcoidosis
• Lung cancer (usually causes persistent cough, and is accompanied by other signs like weight loss and chest pain)
• Medication side effects (certain medications, particularly some blood pressure medications like ACE inhibitors, can cause a dry cough as a side effect)
• Bronchiectasis

If you have a persistent or unusual cough that doesn't improve with typical treatments, be sure to seek medical attention to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate care.

Common Allergens That Cause Coughing

These allergens can be found in various environments, both indoors and outdoors, and can lead to other symptoms besides coughing:

• Pollen from trees, grass, and weeds.
• Dust mites
• Pet dander
• Mold spores
• Insect droppings

If you have a persistent cough with other allergy symptoms, identifying these triggers is the first step to finding relief.

How to Treat Allergy-Related Cough

Addressing an allergy-related cough typically involves multiple steps, with identifying triggers being the first and most important. Let’s explore each below:

Identify and avoid triggers

First, find out which allergens are causing your symptoms.

For example, if pollen is a trigger, keep windows closed during high pollen seasons and use air purifiers. If dust mites are the problem, clean regularly and use hypoallergenic dust mite covers. To avoid pet dander, keep pets out of the bedrooms and clean their bedding frequently.

Over-the-counter medications

These medications target various aspects of allergic reactions, which reduce inflammation, congestion, and the urge to cough. Here are some effective options:

• Antihistamines like cetirizine, loratadine, and fexofenadine are often used to block histamine. Histamine is a chemical that causes allergy symptoms and can lead to coughing. However, since most postnasal drip comes from the nose, we believe they tend not to be as effective as nasal sprays in treating post nasal drip symptoms, since nasal sprays target the root cause .
• Nasal corticosteroids, such as fluticasone, triamcinolone and mometasone, reduce inflammation in the nasal passages. This can help control coughing caused by post-nasal drip.
• Decongestants like pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine relieve nasal congestion and reduce post-nasal drip. However, they should be used with caution and not for long periods.
• Cough suppressants, such as dextromethorphan, help reduce the urge to cough. Expectorants, like guaifenesin, help thin mucus so it can be cleared from the airways more easily. These medications can often lead to side effects like drowsiness.
• A combination nasal spray, such as Allermi, provides comprehensive relief from allergy symptoms by combining 3-4 clinically proven active ingredients — including an antihistamine, decongestant, and anti-inflammatory. What makes Allermi unique is its approach to creating custom nasal spray formulas based on each patient's specific allergy symptoms.

Allergy shots (Immunotherapy)

For individuals with severe allergies, allergy shots, also known as immunotherapy, can help manage an allergy-related cough. This treatment involves regular injections of small amounts of allergens, which gradually increase in strength.

These injections help to desensitize the immune system to the allergens, reducing its overreaction. As a result, allergy symptoms, including coughing, become less frequent and less severe over time. Allergy shots can be very effective as a long term treatment, and will generally require months if not over a year to take effect, depending on the age of the patient.

Drink plenty of water

Drinking plenty of water helps keep mucus thin and less sticky. This makes it easier to cough up and clear from the airways. When the mucus is less thick, it helps remove irritants and allergens that may be causing the cough.

Staying hydrated also soothes an irritated throat and reduces inflammation, which can further lessen the coughing.

Lifestyle changes

Regular cleaning ( wearing a mask while cleaning )helps reduce allergens like dust mites, pet dander, and mold. Keeping indoor humidity between 30-50% prevents mold growth and limits dust mites, which can trigger coughing [*].

Avoid smoking since tobacco smoke irritates the airways and can make allergic reactions and coughing worse [*].

How Long Does Allergy-Related Cough Last?

The duration of an allergy-related cough can vary based on several factors. If you identify and avoid the allergens causing the cough, it usually lasts from a few days to a few weeks.

However, if you keep being exposed to allergens or if your allergies are not well-managed, the cough may last longer.

Sometimes, an allergy-related cough can become chronic, especially if you have ongoing exposure to allergens or severe allergies.

This is why effective management through medications, lifestyle changes, and avoiding allergens can help shorten the duration and reduce the severity of the cough.

When to See a Doctor for Allergy Cough

You should see a doctor for an allergy-related cough if it persists. If the cough lasts more than a few weeks, it may indicate a more serious issue.

Also, consult a healthcare provider if you experience additional symptoms like wheezing, shortness of breath, or chest tightness or if it is severe enough to disrupt your daily activities or sleep. These could signal asthma or other respiratory problems.

The Bottom Line

Coughing can have different causes, like allergies, asthma, GERD, and bronchitis, and each needs its own treatment. If allergies are causing the cough, it's important to identify the triggers to find relief.

In some cases, treatments like custom nasal sprays like Allermi may offer additional support. If your cough persists despite treatment, consult a healthcare provider for further evaluation.

References:

1. Shmerling, R. H., MD. (2022, May 14). Treatments for post-nasal drip. Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/treatments-for-post-nasal-drip
2. Penn Medicine. (n.d.). Cough. Penn Medicine. (2024, October 7). https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/cough
3. Acevedo, N., Zakzuk, J., & Caraballo, L. (2019). House Dust Mite Allergy Under Changing Environments. Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research, 11(4), 450-469. https://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2019.11.4.450
4. Pavlovic, T., Nagorni, L., Milikic, M. M., & Pavlovic, D. (2011, September 1). Passive smoking may influence respiratory allergic reaction. European Respiratory Society. https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p4086