Summer is in full swing. You must regularly consume ice cream and icy cold water even after repeated warnings from your mother!  In addition, a throat tickle is accompanied by a dry cough and fever. As a result, it gets pretty challenging to continue with day-to-day tasks.

A sore throat is an extremely common health condition in this hot season that mainly occurs due to environmental factors and bacterial infection. Continue reading the article to know more about the causes, and symptoms, and also how to get instant relief from a throat irritation.

1. Causes and Symptoms of Tickle in Throat

Here is a list of some of the main causes of itchy throat:

1.1. Common Cold

A tickle in the throat may be the reason for a common cold. Additionally, common symptoms of Viral infection include fever, cough, muscle pain, and stuffy nose. Furthermore, the cold symptoms start to fade away within one week. However, if the problem continues for seven to ten days, then it might be a sign of a serious health issue.

1.2 Sinus Infection

Sinus infection might be the reason for your tickly throat. Sinus drainage leads to postnasal drip which results in an irritated throat.

1.3. Hay Fever

Hay fever is a common allergic reaction caused by airborne substances like pollen. Hay fever may be the reason for runny nose, sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes and throat.

Additionally, perennial hay fever is caused by dust, dander, mites, and mold. Consult a healthcare professional for proper treatment of these allergic reactions.

1.4. Chronic Cough

If a tickle in the throat is followed by a severe cough that lasts for several days (around 7-8 weeks), then it might be the symptom of a chronic cough. Hence, it becomes necessary to see a doctor in this situation.

1.5. Laryngitis

Laryngitis is the common reason for a ticklish throat. The larynx might swell up in this condition, followed by irritation and infection. In addition, you may develop a cough and your voice might also change for a short period.

1.6. Dehydration

A sudden tickle in the throat is a subtle warning that your body is dehydrated. It is advisable to keep the body hydrated and throat moist, especially in the hot season to never face this issue.

1.7. GERD

GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) is a digestive disorder. It might be the major reason why you have a ticklish throat. Additionally, you might also be witnessing severe symptoms like burning in the chest, nausea, cough, trouble swallowing, and bitter taste. Seek medical care if you have constant chest pain and breathing problems.

1.8. Asthma

This chronic lung disease affects people of all age groups. The person incurs severe breathing problems with asthma, followed by a ticklish throat.

Acid reflux irritates the airways of the upper respiratory system. As a result, it narrows the air passages which further leads to exacerbating asthma symptoms. Thus, it becomes necessary to closely follow the instructions of the doctor and take necessary precautions for health.

1.9 Throat Cancer

Throat cancer is the development of cancerous cells in the voice box. Throat cancer is caused by alcohol consumption, smoking, and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

If you are facing serious health issues like chronic cough, throat pain, breathing difficulty, neck swelling, weight loss, and ear pain, then it becomes necessary to consult a medical professional.

2. Instant Medications and Home Remedies

At-home remedies are quite useful in getting rid of tickles in the throat. Therefore, if you are worrying about an itchy throat causing you to lose sleep at night, then here are simple home remedies.

Note: However, it is advisable to make an appointment with the physician as soon as possible if you have severe symptoms such as breathing problems, vomiting, or high fever.

2.1. Salt Water Gargle

Salt water gargling has been an age-old practice to combat itchy throat. Saltwater serves as an antiseptic to your throat and therefore, instantly relieves the throat from constant tickle. Simply add half a tablespoon of salt to one cup of lukewarm water. Gargle it in your mouth for a while. Remember to repeat this process thrice a day.

2.2. Turmeric Milk

Remember how our grandmothers used to serve turmeric milk whenever we felt sick? Turmeric milk is a centuries-old custom to clear mucus from the throat. Simply boil one cup of milk along with one tablespoon of turmeric powder. In addition, stir it until well combined. Let it sit for a few minutes. That’s it! Your turmeric milk is ready.

2.3. Warm Water

The main reason why you wake up with a sore throat is because you drink refrigerated water during the summer season. Hence, it is important to drink warm water so that your throat can recover quickly.

Herbal teas like chamomile tea, slippery elm tea, etc. are effective in this situation. Chamomile tea is infused with antioxidants that help you get quick relief from a bad throat.

2.4. OTC Medication

Take an over-the-counter (OTC) medication if the pain is unbearable. Normally it takes half an hour for these OTC painkillers to kick in.

2.5. Throat Lozenges

Lozenges are cough drops for a tickle in your throat. There are several throat Lozenges available in the market that can offer you instant relief from throat pain. One of them is Strepsils Triple Action.

2.6. Extra Rest

It is crucial to take some extra rest since your body is fighting a virus. Therefore, sit back and relax! Give yourself a break and don’t try too hard during working hours. You deserve it!

3. When to Seek Medical Help for Getting Rid of Tickle in Throat?

A sore throat is not a critical health issue and therefore doesn’t require medical assistance. However, it gets super important to see a doctor immediately if the symptoms get out of hand.

For this reason, the doctor will inspect your throat for redress, swelling, sinus drainage, or inflammation. They may prescribe antibiotics if you have a sinus infection.

Consequently, Allergy testing might be recommended by the doctor to check if the skin reacts to certain allergens. Likewise, allergy testing can be done through blood tests.

4. How to Prevent Tickle in Throat?

It’s highly crucial to include healthy practices in our lives to prevent an itchy throat. Some of them are:

1. Drink normal or warm water. Avoid refrigerated water at all costs.

2. Restrict the consumption of ice cream and cold drinks.

3. Take a hot shower.

4. Keep a distance from known allergens.

5. Keep your house squeaky clean.

6. Wash your hands regularly.

7. Avoid alcohol or cigarette smoke.

5. Final Words

I hope you discovered the best ways to get rid of tickles in the throat by reading this article. No matter how uncomfortable an itchy throat can get, it is your body’s natural reaction to alert you that something is wrong with your respiratory system.

Last Updated on December 23, 2023 by soubhik92@gmail.com