What exactly is an Itchy throat?
Basically an itchy throat is a sensation which is irritating the throat and that incites the need to cough.
Itchy throat Symptoms
Symptoms that can accompany an itchy throat include:
- Secretions
- Pain
- Difficulty speaking
- Runny nose
- Difficulty eating
- Itchy eyes
The walls inside the throat are coated with mucosal membranes which have nerves that can be annoyed by:
- Food
- Polluted air
- Inflammatory reaction
- Allergic reaction
The mucosal glands produces mucus which is a fluid which is sticky and lines the walls of the throat, therefore protecting these walls as well as allowing the smooth route for food as well as air. Whenever mucous glands don’t produce adequate mucus, for instance, due to medications, dehydration or air that is dry, the nerves of the throat grow to be exposed and then irritable.
Itchy throat Causes
Among the conditions which can cause itchy throats include:
Dry Throat
This often develops together with eyes which are dry as well as skin and mouth. Familiar causes are:
- Windy cold weather
- “Sick building diseases” from indoor air conditioner or heating
- Nose stuffed up and breathing thru mouth
- Chronic or acute inflammation of the throat
- Dehydration
- In elderly person – salivary which is under active
- Marijuana as well as tobacco smoking
- Alcohol
- The caffeine found in sodas, coffee as well as energy drinks
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Drugs for depression, medications for urinary incontinence, atropine, barbiturates, opium, ergotamine, diuretics, sprays or antihistamines to care for asthma
Loud singing or speaking
Speaking for a prolong period of time, yelling or singing, can cause you to have a sore itchy throat which can need a couple of days to get better.
Foreign body
Those can be items such as seeds or a piece of bone that can get stuck in the pocket over the epiglottis, or a sharp piece of almost anything can jab into the throat wall.
Irritant substances
Example of these could be gases from manufacturing pollution which contain metal fumes or sulphur dioxide, solvents, dust, lab chemicals or cleaners all can irritate your throat. Cigarette smoke, marijuana or inhaled cocaine also are irritant substances.
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Infections of the throat
- Viral infection – such as the common cold, flu, infectious mononucleosis, chickenpox, mumps, or measles.
- Bacterial infections – infections caused by bacteria such an Haemophilus influenzae, Steptoccus pneumonias as well as many others
- Fungi – candida as well as other fungi can overgrow in the throat or mouth in those with low immunity caused by cancer, diabetes, AIDS, therapy with corticosteroid or other causes. Mucormycosis is a fungus infection of the upper airways.
- Croup – is an inflammation in the throat of children with a characteristic barking, harsh cough.
Disorders of the neck
Enlarged lymph nodes or thyroid, tumor, abscess, dislodged tissues after an injury or fibrous tissue such as adhesions after a surgery – all of these press up against the throat from the outside, irritating it.
GERD
This is short for “gastro-esophageal reflux disease” and occurs when stomach acid comes up into the throat and irritates it, causing itching as well as a burning feeling referred to as heartburn.
Itchy throat Treatment
For the treatment of a dry throat that is causing itchiness, first remove the cause. One way to soothe the throat is to drink enough water or herbal tea with some honey in it. Herbal candies that have no sugar and menthol can provide temporary relief by creating a thin film of protection over the throat mucosa. Breathing with the mouth closed as well as avoiding speaking too much can also help.
With Sjogren’s syndrome, rinses as well as artificial saliva can help to bring moisture to the throat. Air humidifiers for the indoors are available.
Teas with licorice root, marshmallow root, barberry, honeysuckle flowers, chamomile, eucalyptus or slippery elm can also help with sore or itchy throats.
For itchy throats which are triggered by foods or substances which an individual is allergic too, the best treatment is to avoid the food or substances. When that is not possible, using oral antihistamines after an allergic attack is recommended.
For those who suffer with GERD and have a problem with hyper-acidity, treatment with anti-acid drugs known as H2 antagonists such as cimetidine or ranitidine is recommended. There are also medications for the stomach which are known as proton pump inhibitors such as omerprazal. These medications to help reduce acid are essential.
Pain killers, cough syrups, antibiotics, as well as corticosteroids should be used just when there is a clear cause with symptoms which are unsettling your daily life. Most of these medications will cause a dry throat. Antibiotics often cause “antibiotic associated diarrhea” even after a few days of use. And steroids have side effects also, including fungal infections of the throat and mouth.
