Tickle in the Throat: Causes of Nagging Symptoms
Medically reviewed by Benjamin F. Asher, MD
Having a “tickle in your throat” is a common way of referring to an itchy sensation in the back of the throat. It may or may not be accompanied by a dry cough. Common causes of a tickle in the throat include strep throat, laryngitis, COVID-19, dehydration, acid reflux, allergies, asthma, environmental irritants, viral infections, and the side effects of certain medications. In very rare cases, a persistent itchy throat may be a sign of cancer.
In this article, we’ll go over the different possible causes of a tickle in your throat, as well as treatment options, possible complications, and when to see a healthcare provider.
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Causes of a Tickle in the Throat
There are many different potential causes of a tickle in your throat. The following list contains the most common causes, both with and without a cough.
Without Coughing
If you’re experiencing a tickle in your throat but not a cough, it may be due to one of the following health conditions:
Strep throat: Strep throat is an infection caused by Group A Streptococcus bacterium. Symptoms typically include fever, sore throat, pain when swallowing, swollen lymph nodes, and swollen tonsils. Many people with strep throat feel a painful lump in their throat, which may also cause a tickling or itchy sensation.
Laryngitis: Typically caused by a viral infection, laryngitis refers to inflammation of the larynx or voice box. It causes hoarseness, a scratchy sensation in the throat, and a fever and swollen lymph nodes.
Dehydration: Dehydration, or severe fluid loss, can leave the throat feeling irritated, dry, and itchy.
Certain cancers: A tickle in the throat is unlikely to be a sign of cancer. Very rarely, a persistently hoarse voice and sore throat may be a symptom of esophageal, laryngeal, or hypopharyngeal cancer.
With Coughing
A tickling sensation in your throat and dry cough may be caused by the following conditions:
Acid reflux: Chronic acid reflux, or heartburn, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), occurs when acid and other contents flow back up from the stomach into the esophagus. This can cause burning and irritation in the back of the throat, coughing, wheezing, and difficulty swallowing.
Allergies: A tickle in the throat is a common symptom of an allergic reaction. Other symptoms include sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes, runny nose, and wheezing. Common allergens include pet dander, dust, mold, and pollen.
Asthma: Asthma is a long-term condition that causes the airways in the lungs to become inflamed. During an asthma attack (a worsening of asthma symptoms), you may experience a tickle in the throat, as well as coughing, shortness of breath, and chest pain.
COVID-19: A persistent dry cough and tickle in the throat have been reported among some people with COVID-19 and post-COVID syndrome, which are effects on organs that linger after being sick with COVID. It’s still unknown exactly why this happens, but research is ongoing.
Environmental irritants: Environmental irritants, such as tobacco smoke and pollutants, often cause irritation, scratchiness, and itchiness in the throat, as well as coughing. Both smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke can have this effect, but frequent smokers are especially likely to experience symptoms.
ACE inhibitors: Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, typically prescribed to lower blood pressure and treat heart conditions, sometimes have a dry cough and tickling or scratching sensation in the throat as a side effect.
Infections: Viral infections, such as the common cold and flu, often cause a tickle in the throat. Related conditions, such as sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses) and bronchitis (inflammation of the upper airways), may also cause a tickling sensation due to postnasal drip, in which mucus drips down the back of the throat and causes irritation.
How to Treat That Throat Tickle
Depending on the cause, there are many at-home remedies you can use to relieve the tickle in your throat. Examples include:
Drinking lemon, ginger, or honey tea
Drinking plenty of water and other fluids
Drinking hot soup
Using a humidifier
Sucking on cough drops
Taking decongestants for postnasal drip
Taking hot showers or breathing in hot steam
Avoiding caffeine and alcohol
Quitting smoking
Avoiding common allergens, such as pet dander and pollen
If you have a tickle in your throat due to an underlying health condition, follow your healthcare provider’s instructions about how to treat it. For example, if you have asthma, take all of your medications regularly as prescribed.
Symptoms of Constant Tickle in the Throat
The primary symptom of a tickle in the throat is an itchy sensation in the back of your throat. It may also feel swollen, irritated, or inflamed. You could have a frequent urge to cough or clear your throat. Some people feel like something is stuck in their throat and needs to be dislodged.
Depending on the cause of the tickling sensation, you may also experience symptoms like:
Dry or hacking cough
Nasal congestion
Eye redness and irritation
Sore throat
Sleeping With a Tickle in Your Throat
Having a tickle in your throat can sometimes disrupt your sleep, whether it’s due to allergies, asthma, or postnasal drip. Drinking tea with honey before bed and sleeping with your head propped up on pillows may help to relieve your symptoms and improve your sleep quality.
If you continue to have insomnia due to your itchy throat or cough, reach out to a healthcare provider. They may suggest that you undergo a sleep study to check for any underlying sleep disorders.
Complications and Risk Factors
It’s rare for a tickle in your throat to lead to serious health problems. If you also have a persistent, intense cough, you may have a higher risk of developing the following complications:
Headache
Insomnia
Syncope (fainting)
Light-headedness
Hernias
Difficulty breathing
Loss of bladder control
Fractured ribs
Many people get a tickle in their throat from time to time. However, the following risk factors may increase your chance of experiencing it (and an accompanying cough) on a chronic basis:
Smoking
Exposure to air pollution
Exposure to irritants in the workplace
Having obesity
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
Chronic upper airway inflammation
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Consider reaching out to a healthcare provider if your itchy throat and/or cough persist or get worse for more than a few weeks.
Go to the emergency room or call 911 if you have signs of a severe allergic reaction or another medical emergency alongside the tickle in your throat, such as:
Swelling in the face, throat, eyes, tongue, and/or lips
Difficulty breathing
Difficulty swallowing
You should also reach out to a healthcare provider if you have any signs of throat cancer, such as:
Hoarseness, a sore throat, or vocal changes for longer than two weeks
Unexplained weight loss
Pain in the ear
Pain when swallowing
Lumps or masses in the neck
Diagnosing a Tickle in Your Throat
In addition to a review of your symptoms and medical history and a physical examination, your healthcare provider may diagnose the reason for a tickle in your throat by conducting the following tests:
Tests to assess your lung function
Computed tomography (CT) scans of the sinuses
GERD evaluation tests
Summary
You may experience a tickling sensation in your throat for many different reasons. If your itchy throat is not accompanied by a cough, it may be due to strep throat, laryngitis, dehydration, or (rarely) throat cancer. If you have a cough, you could have a tickle in your throat due to acid reflux, ACE inhibitors, infection, allergies, COVID-19, asthma, or irritants in the environment.
A tickle in your throat can often be relieved with at-home remedies, such as honeyed tea, cough drops, and getting plenty of rest and fluids. If your symptoms are related to another health condition, such as allergies or asthma, you will need to reach out to a healthcare provider to treat the underlying cause.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.
