Itchy Throat Cough: Causes and Treatment

An itchy throat accompanied by a persistent cough can be an annoying and disruptive experience. Many people find themselves reaching for throat lozenges for relief, only to be met with persistent irritation that affects their daily activities.

This discomfort often arises when the throat becomes inflamed or irritated. If you’ve been dealing with a cough from an itchy throat, you might be curious about the underlying causes.

This article provides clarity on the potential triggers and effective remedies to help you find relief.

What is an Itchy Throat Cough?

An itchy throat cough is a common symptom where an irritation in the throat triggers a persistent cough. This sensation often feels like a tickle or scratchiness in the throat, leading to the urge to cough to relieve the discomfort.

Itchy throat and cough can result from a wide range of factors. Allergies are a common culprit, while others include the common cold or flu, environmental irritants, conditions like acid reflux, dry air, and medications. While harmless, it can interfere with daily activities.

Why is My Throat Itchy and Making Me Cough?

An itchy throat that makes you cough can be caused by a variety of factors but the most common culprits are allergies and infections. These factors can irritate the throat lining, which leads to the uncomfortable sensation of itchiness and the urge to cough.

Below, we will discuss each of these causes in more detail and how they contribute to an itchy throat and cough.

Allergies

Allergies to substances like pollen, dust mites, or pet dander can trigger an overreaction in the immune system, causing your body to release histamines. This leads to increased mucus production, resulting in post-nasal drip — when excess mucus drips down the back of the throat, irritating it and triggering a cough [*].

The combination of an itchy throat and coughing is a common response to this mucus buildup, as your body tries to clear the irritants.

Related: Types of Allergies

Infections

Viral infections, such as the common cold or flu, often cause inflammation in the respiratory system, including the throat. This inflammation can make the throat feel itchy and trigger a reflexive cough to help expel mucus or other irritants [*].

Bacterial infections like strep throat (caused by Streptococcus pyogenes) can also cause significant throat discomfort (sore throat, for example) and lead to coughing.

Irritants

Exposure to environmental irritants like smoke, pollution, or strong odors can dry out and inflame your throat, causing itchiness and coughing. Even breathing in dry air or experiencing sudden temperature changes can make your throat dry and more sensitive, leading to the urge to cough.

People with allergies are more likely to experience an itchy throat and cough when exposed to these environmental irritants.

Acid Reflux

Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus, the tube that connects the throat to the stomach. Normally, a ring of muscle at the bottom of the esophagus called the lower esophageal sphincter, keeps stomach acid from moving upward. However, when this muscle relaxes or weakens, acid can travel up and reach the throat.

When this happens, a burning sensation is felt in the chest, known as heartburn, and, when it reaches the throat, it can also cause itching and discomfort. The acid’s irritation can lead to an itchy or scratchy feeling, which then triggers a reflexive cough.

Dry Air

Dry air, especially during colder months or in air-conditioned environments, can strip moisture from the throat, and make it dry and irritated. This lack of moisture can lead to itching and a reflexive cough as your body tries to compensate for the dryness.

Medications

Many medications can reduce the amount of saliva produced by the salivary glands, causing a condition called xerostomia, or dry mouth. This happens because some medications block acetylcholine, a chemical that helps trigger saliva production.

Some of these medications include antihistamines, antidepressants, and blood pressure medications. This dryness can result in an itchy throat and persistent coughing as the body reacts to the lack of moisture in the throat.

How to Get Rid of Itchy Throat Cough

Managing these common triggers and calming your throat can make a big difference in your comfort. Here’s a closer look at each option:

Antihistamines

Antihistamines are medications that help reduce the body's response to allergens, which can cause an itchy throat and cough. They are generally categorized into two groups: first-generation and second-generation antihistamines.

Second-generation antihistamines are less likely to cross the blood-brain barrier, which reduces the risk of sedation. Examples are cetirizine, fexofenadine, and loratadine.

These medications are particularly useful during allergy season or if you’re exposed to dust, pollen, or pet dander.

Nasal sprays

We believe that nasal sprays provide more targeted relief with less side-effects than oral antihistamines for post nasal drip symptoms. Custom nasal sprays, such as the Allermi Super Spray, can provide targeted relief for allergy-related symptoms.

Allermi is designed to help reduce inflammation in the nasal passages and decrease mucus production to effectively address post-nasal drip that leads to throat irritation and coughing.

Moreover, using a saline nasal such as Allermi Salinity Spray can provide relief by moisturizing dry nasal passages and helping clear out allergens and irritants.

Decongestants

Decongestants can relieve nasal congestion, making it easier to breathe and reducing post-nasal drip. This helps minimize throat irritation and coughing.

However, be cautious with prolonged use of decongestant nasal sprays, as they can lead to rebound congestion. This occurs when the nasal passages become dependent on the medication and cause them to swell even more once the spray wears off.

Get plenty of rest

Getting plenty of rest is essential for your body to recover, especially if your symptoms are due to a viral infection. Sleep helps your immune system fight off illness, and taking it easy during the day can prevent your symptoms from worsening.

Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night and consider taking short naps if you’re feeling particularly tired.

Drink a lot of fluids

Drinking plenty of fluids is very helpful for easing an itchy throat and reducing coughing. Staying hydrated keeps your throat moist, which can lessen irritation and make you feel more comfortable.

Fluids like water, herbal teas, and warm broths are especially good because they also thin out mucus, which helps clear your airways and makes coughing less frequent. Warm drinks, in particular, feel soothing right away.

Avoid irritants and allergens

Identifying and avoiding irritants or allergens is key to reducing throat irritation. Try to stay away from smoke, strong odors, and pollution. If you have known allergies, keep your living space clean by regularly dusting and vacuuming, and consider using an air purifier to filter out allergens. This will help create a more comfortable environment for your throat.

How Long Does Itchy Throat Cough Last?

The duration of an itchy throat and cough can vary significantly depending on the underlying cause. For allergies, symptoms may persist as long as you are exposed to the allergen, ranging from a few days to several weeks.

Viral infections, like the common cold or flu, typically cause an itchy throat and cough that last about one to two weeks as your body fights off the virus.

If the cough lingers beyond two weeks, it may indicate a secondary infection or another condition, such as post-nasal drip or acid reflux.

When to See a Doctor for Itchy Throat Cough

If your itchy throat and cough last more than a week, get worse, or come with other serious symptoms, it’s important to see a doctor. You should also medical help if you have trouble breathing or swallowing, cough up blood or thick mucus, or develop a high fever, severe throat pain, or swelling in your throat or neck.

These signs could point to a more serious issue that needs quick treatment.

The Bottom Line

An itchy throat and persistent cough can be uncomfortable and disruptive. Thankfully, numerous options are available, such as targeted treatments like Allermi nasal sprays (Allermi Salinity Spray and Super Spray) to soothe your throat and alleviate coughing.

Should your symptoms continue or become more severe, reach out to a doctor for a thorough assessment and appropriate treatment.

References:

1. Patel, R. H., & Mohiuddin, S. S. (2023, May 1). Biochemistry, Histamine. StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557790/
2. Tan, K. S., Lim, R. L., Liu, J., Ong, H. H., Tan, V. J., Lim, H. F., Chung, K. F., Adcock, I. M., Chow, V. T., & Wang, D. Y. (2020). Respiratory Viral Infections in Exacerbation of Chronic Airway Inflammatory Diseases: Novel Mechanisms and Insights From the Upper Airway Epithelium. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2020.00099