Can allergies cause a sore throat?

Allergies happen when your body mistakes a harmless substance called an allergen for a threat and launches an immune system response as a result. Most often, airborne allergies affect the nose and eyes, but other symptoms, including a sore throat, can arise during a reaction.

There are two main ways that allergies can cause a sore throat. The first relates to mucus production. When you come in contact with an allergen, your body often produces excess mucus to trap allergens and keep them from entering the body. As that mucus builds up, it may drip back into your throat, causing irritation to develop. Healthcare providers refer to this as postnasal drip.

Direct inflammation is the second cause of an allergy-related sore throat. In response to allergens, the immune system launches an inflammatory response. In some cases, this can lead to swelling and irritation in the throat.

Treating your allergies can relieve symptoms, including a sore throat. Treatments for allergies include:

• Avoiding triggers: Your healthcare provider can order allergy blood testing and/or refer you to an allergy specialist for skin testing to determine what you’re allergic to. By taking steps to avoid triggers, you can reduce symptoms.
  
• Over-the-counter oral medications: To manage allergies, healthcare providers may recommend over-the-counter oral allergy medications that you take once or twice per day, such as fexofenadine, loratadine and cetirizine, or levocetirizine.
• Over-the-counter nasal sprays: Antihistamine and corticosteroid nasal sprays can help control allergy symptoms. These medications are available without a prescription.
• Prescription medications: In some cases, your healthcare provider may prescribe an antihistamine, decongestant or other medications to manage your symptoms.
• Immunotherapy: Regular injections or sublingual medications that contain extracts of allergens can reduce your body’s allergic response over time.

While treating allergies, you can take steps to soothe a sore throat by:

• Staying hydrated: Drinking plenty of fluids can help to thin mucus to ease postnasal drip.
  
• Trying some honey: Taking a spoonful of honey or mixing honey into a warm beverage may temporarily soothe irritation.
• Using saline nasal spray: A saltwater solution, saline nasal spray helps thin mucus in the nasal passages to reduce postnasal drip.
• Gargling saltwater: Add a teaspoon of salt to warm water and gargle to temporarily relieve inflammation.

A sore throat and other symptoms of allergies, such as sneezing and nasal congestion, can occur due to infections, such as the common cold or COVID-19. However, other symptoms, such as watery eyes and itching of the nose, throat and eyes are largely associated only with allergies. On the other hand, if you have a fever, allergies are unlikely to be the cause. Additionally, if other people around you are sick or you have child in day care, there may be a higher chance that it is an infection.

If you’re uncertain what’s causing your sore throat, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider. They can conduct an examination, diagnose your symptoms and recommend the best treatments for you.

Updated August 2024.