Allergies occur when your immune system thinks a harmless substance, called an allergen, is harmful.
Learn more about allergies and dry throat in this article.
This immune response leads to symptoms such as runny nose, nasal congestion, and cough.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
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.
Air conditioning can also make dry throat and allergies worse by blowing allergens into the air.
Hay fever is also called allergic rhinitis because it includes a variety of symptoms that affect your nose.
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.
The best way to know if COVID-19 is causing your symptoms is by taking a COVID-19 test.
These are available over the counter and can produce a result in around 15 minutes.
Common over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamine medications include:
More serious allergy symptoms might require prescription medication.
Liquids
A dry throat can be worse if you’re dehydrated.
Drink plenty of fluids and monitor the color of your urine.
Consider adding somehoneyto your tea to coat your throat.
Repeat several times a day while you’re having symptoms.
Air purifiers can also be used in your home to decrease airborne allergens and reduce allergy symptoms.
Allergy testing can help identify exactly what is causing symptoms like dry throat.
Other Causes of Dry Throat
Dry throat symptoms aren’t only brought on by allergies.
Cold Weather
A dry throat occurs more often in the winter months due to the cold weather.
Air is drier during the winter months because the humidity is lower.
This can cause dry air to enter the throat and nasal passages.
Sleep Issues
Breathing issues during sleep can cause a dry throat.
One of the symptoms of GERD is throat irritation when stomach acid backs up into your esophagus.
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 could get the right treatment.
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?
Harvard Health Publishing.When should I be concerned about the color of my urine?
American College of Emergency Physicians.Sore throat.
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).
