Can Sore Throat Be a Symptom of Allergies?

A sore throat is common in people with allergies, and postnasal drip is typically to blame. The body can produce so much mucus in an effort to rid itself of an allergen that the discharge runs from the nose down the back of the throat, causing pain, scratching, and tickling.

It's not uncommon for people to mistake a sore throat due to allergies for a symptom of a cold.

This article explains how sore throat and allergies are related. It also offers suggestions for treating a sore throat from allergies.

Why Allergies Cause Sore Throat

When you're allergic to something, your body’s immune system mistakes it for something dangerous and starts making antibodies against it. Amongst other things, this encourages the production of more mucus.

Mucus is usually helpful, since it can help trap substances that enter the nose so they can be removed. However, excess mucus production can cause nasal and sinus congestion. That congestion can then drain into the throat, causing soreness and other symptoms.

Common allergens that can cause a sore throat from postnatal drip include:

• Pollen
• Mold
• Animal dander
• Dust mites
• Cockroaches

Treating a Sore Throat Due to Allergies

Medications can help tamp down the immune response, reducing your risk of developing a sore throat due to allergies, or help reduce the congestion that leads to throat pain. Home remedies may help ease your discomfort.

Medications

There are many over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications that can help manage a sore throat and other allergy symptoms.

Medications are especially effective for treating nasal congestion that contributes to a sore throat from allergies.

• Antihistamines: Histamine is the chemical your body releases in response to an allergen. Antihistamines block the receptor for histamine and stop allergy symptoms. They are the most used medications for treating nasal allergies. Examples of antihistamines include Benadryl (diphenhydramine), Zyrtec (cetirizine), and Claritin(loratadine).
• Decongestants: Congestion happens when mucus in the nasal passages blocks the airways and the blood vessels in the nose get bigger. Decongestants shrink blood vessels (vasoconstriction). These medications are sometimes combined with antihistamines for allergy symptom relief. Examples of decongestants include Afrin (oxymetazoline) and Sudafed (pseudoephedrine).
• Nasal sprays: Corticosteroids are the most effective treatments for nasal allergies. They reduce inflammation and block allergic responses. Examples include Nasonex (mometasone) and Flonase (fluticasone).

Natural Remedies

Soothing a sore throat from allergies is similar to finding relief when you have a sore throat for other reasons. You may find some relief by using:

• Saltwater (saline solution) gargles
• Honey from a spoon or mixed in warm water
• Neti pot saline nasal rinse
• Steam from a humidifier or hot shower
• Warm drinks, like tea
• Throat lozenges

Rest and hydration can also help.

Preventing a Sore Throat From Allergies

Avoiding exposure to allergens is the best way to prevent allergy symptoms, including sore throats. This may also reduce the amount of medication you need.

Ways to avoid allergens that could cause a sore throat include:

• Staying indoors when the index of the amount of pollen in the air (pollen count ) is high
• Keeping your home's windows closed 
• Using air purifiers to remove harmful particles from the air
• Using dehumidifiers to remove moisture from the air and prevent mold and mildew
• Changing your clothes and showering after being around an allergen
• Washing bedding at least once a week

Allergy Shots

Allergy shots (immunotherapy) inject allergens into your body in higher doses over time. By getting exposed to the allergen, you become less sensitive to it by the time you complete therapy.

Allergy shots are different from other medications for allergies. Instead of managing symptoms like a sore throat, they address the underlying cause to prevent reactions to an allergen.

Healthcare providers give allergy shots in their offices. Allergy shots are a long-term treatment option, lasting three to five years. For the first few months, you get injections one to three times a week. After that, you'll get them less often—around every four to six weeks.

Allergy shots are an option for someone who does not want to take allergy medication or for whom medications haven't helped. It's also appealing to people who want to resolve their allergies rather than treat them.

Is It an Infection or Allergies?

It can sometimes be hard to tell if a sore throat is from allergies or a virus like COVID-19 or the cold or flu.

One difference is that allergies do not cause body aches or fever. If you have either or any of these additional signs of infection, call your healthcare provider:

• Severe throat pain
• Trouble swallowing or breathing
• Coughing up blood
• Enlarged lymph nodes in your neck
• White patches on your throat
• Loss of voice
  

Summary

The leading cause of sore throat from allergies is postnasal drip, which is when nasal discharge runs down the back of your throat. This occurs because allergies trigger the production of excess mucus that then needs to drain from the nose and sinuses.

Over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs, and home remedies like lozenges can ease symptoms and/or help keep the allergic response causing sore throat at bay.

Additional symptoms like fever and body aches indicate sore throat is likely due to an infection, rather than allergies.