Acid reflux, allergies, and asthma can also cause a tickle in the throat along with coughing.
If you’re not coughing, the itchiness may be sparked by dehydration or vocal strain.
If the tickle in your throat is a chronic issue, see your provider for an evaluation.
Brothers91 / Getty Images
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.
COVID-19
A persistent dry cough and tickle in the throat can be a symptom of COVID-19.
Its still unknown exactly why this happens, but research is ongoing.
Strep Throat
Strep throatis an infection sparked by the bacteriaStreptococcuspyogenes.
This inflammation can make the throat feel sore, dry, and scratchy.
Laryngitis
Laryngitisrefers to inflammation of the larynx (voice box).
It is often sparked by a viral infection.
When the vocal cords get inflamed, they get itchy and ticklish.
These sensations may trigger the cough reflex in some people, causing a throat tickle.
Acute bronchitis is usually because of a viral respiratory infection, such as a cold or flu.
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.
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.
Gastroesophagealreflux disease(GERD) is related to acid reflux but is not the same.
Like acid reflux, a tickle in the throat is a common GERD symptom.
Allergies
A tickle in the throat is a common symptom ofhay fever.
This inflammation can create a tickling or scratchy sensation in the throat.
Asthma
Asthmais a long-term condition that causes the airways in the lungs to become inflamed.
Chronic bronchitisis a long-term condition commonly resulting from smoking or exposure to other irritants you might breathe in.
Medications
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitorsare medications typically prescribed to lower blood pressure andtreat heart conditions.
Certain Cancers
A tickle in the throat is unlikely to be a sign of cancer.
Chung KF, McGarvey L, Song WJ, et al.Cough hypersensitivity and chronic cough.Nat Rev Dis Primers.
2023;18(3):e0283758.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0283758
Rayborn C, Jackson C, Summers N.What is strep throat?.JAMA.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Acid reflux (GER & GERD) in adults.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy symptoms.
Asthma and Allergy Association of America.Insect allergy.
Sicherer SH.Respiratory manifestations of food allergy.
In: Wood RA, TePas E, eds.UpToDate.
2023;151:105227. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105227
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Asthma.
2020;4(Suppl 2):431. doi:10.1093/cdn/nzaa045_064
Ylmaz I.Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors induce cough.Turk Thorac J.
2019;8(1):179191. doi:10.1007/s40119-019-00150-w
Shim JS, Song WJ, Morice AH.Drug-induced cough.Physiol Res.
2020;69(Suppl 1):S81-S92.
2020;9(5):3562-3570. doi:10.21037/apm-20-819
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers.
2020 Oct;25(1):2515690X20967323.
doi:10.1177/2515690X20967323
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Over-the-counter (OTC) heartburn treatment.
American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.Hay fever and allergy medications.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Treatment and action plan.