Monday, March 25, 2024
HomeCauseCan Allergies Cause Your Throat To Hurt

Can Allergies Cause Your Throat To Hurt

How Are Your Ears Affected

Allergies and Sore Throat Treating the Cause

Our ears are made up of three parts the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. Allergic reactions can cause the outer ear to itch or swell. The middle ear contains the Eustachian tube, which acts as a drainage tube of sorts. When mucus clogs the middle ear it affects that drainage. Pressure builds, which can lead to discomfort, popping in the ears or an earache. Your middle ear may itch as well. The inner ear is filled with fluid, and if this fluid becomes infected, you may suffer dizziness, ringing in the ear or loss of balance.

Sometimes a stuffy nose and sinus pressure can radiate to the ears, causing pressure or earaches.

Some people experience a short-term hearing loss due to an allergic reaction. This is known as conductive hearing loss and usually is temporary and resolves itself when the allergies subside.

Young children commonly experience middle ear infections, which may be triggered by allergies. These infections are known as otitis media. If these occur often, a professional may recommend allergy tests.

How Mold Affects Your Throat

Many people are allergic to mold. When youre allergic to something, your immune system perceives it as potentially harmful, even when its not harmful, or at least not harmful in small amounts. Your immune system begins to mount a defense against the perceived threat, including an inflammatory response. That response can cause inflammation or swelling in the throat, airways, and lungs. The inflammation in the throat can cause throat pain or discomfort.

In addition, tiny mold spores are easily inhaled, and they can cause irritation to the nose, throat, airways, and lungs. This can also lead to a sore throat.

Finally, the inflammatory response and irritation in the nasal cavity and sinuses often leads to a runny nose. That can cause post-nasal drip, a condition in which excess mucous drips down the back of the throat. This further irritates the throat, causing additional pain.

Why Can Seasonal Allergies Cause A Sore Throat

Allergies happen when the body perceives a foreign substance as a threat, and the immune system produces antibodies and histamine in response. This creates an inflammatory reaction that makes you feel downright crummy. Common allergy symptoms include sneezing, congestion, runny nose, sinus pressure, and dark circles under the eyes . But under the right circumstances, allergy sufferers could develop a sore throat as well.

Why does this happen? Children with allergies often have increased mucus production in the nasal passages that drips down the back of the throat. This is referred to as postnasal drip, explains Sanjeev Jain, M.D., a board-certified allergist and immunologist at Columbia Allergy. As the mucus drips down the throat, it causes irritation to the mucosa that lines the throat, and this can result in the sensation of a sore throat.

Video: Can Allergies Cause a Sore Throat?

Keep in mind that sore throat can have other causes as well. For example, it often appears with viral upper respiratory infections and bacterial infections , says Natasha Burgert, M.D., a board-certified pediatrician for Pediatric Associates in Overland Park, Kansas. Sore throat might also be a symptom of COVID-19 in kids. Contact your pediatrician if you dont know the cause of your childs sore throat they may need to diagnose and treat it.

Also Check: What Allergy Medicine Is Stronger Than Zyrtec

Treating A Sore Throat Caused By Mold

You can use throat lozenges to soothe throat pain. Warm drinks, especially tea with honey, can help, as can cold treats like popsicles. You can purchase numbing spray for your throat at many drug stores and over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can also help relieve pain. Your doctor can prescribe antihistamines to help dry up post-nasal drip or you can purchase over-the-counter allergy medications which will do the same thing. In most cases, though, these measures will just provide temporary relief and symptoms will continue and even worsen as long as you continue to be exposed to mold.

What Causes Sore Throat

Sore Throat: Overview and More

Many conditions and factors cause sore throat, also called pharyngitis. You may feel pain and irritation anywhere in the back of your mouth, on your tonsils, and down your neck. You may also have a fever, swollen lymph nodes in your neck, and a headache or earache.

Common causes of a sore throat include:

Less common but more serious causes of sore throat are abscess , infection of the epiglottis and tumors.

Don’t Miss: Developing Allergies Later In Life

Why Does Your Throat Hurt On One Side

If your throat pain comes from only one side, it could be a sign of a different condition or unique illness.

As your body helps to fight germs , it can cause the lymph nodes to swell up and become sorewhich can result in pain on one side of the throat.

Postnasal drip is another cause of throat pain. As mucus and fluid drain down the back of the throat, it can lead to the feeling of soreness, specifically on one side.

Inflammation of one or more tonsil, more commonly called tonsillitis, is another common cause of one-sided throat pain. Fever, difficulty swallowing and noisy breathing are symptoms that typically accompany the illness.

If you experience gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERDa condition in which the contents of the stomach back up into the food pipeyou may experience throat pain as well.

How Is Allergic Esophagitis Diagnosed

Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and when they began. Tell him or her if you know certain foods cause your symptoms. Tell him or her if you have any medical conditions or a family history of allergic esophagitis. You may also need any of the following:

  • Allergy tests are used to see how your body reacts to certain allergens. The tests may show what is causing your allergic esophagitis.
  • A barium swallow x-ray is used to take pictures inside your esophagus. You will swallow barium in a thick liquid before you have the x-ray. The barium helps any injuries show up better on the x-rays.
  • Endoscopy is used to find any tissue changes. A scope is used to see inside the esophagus. A scope is a long, bendable tube with a light on the end. The scope is placed in your mouth and passed down your throat and esophagus. A camera may be hooked to the scope to take pictures.
  • A biopsy is used to take tissue samples from your esophagus to be tested. The samples may also be checked for any other problems with your esophagus.

Also Check: What Allergy Medicine Is Stronger Than Zyrtec

Can Allergies Affect Your Ears

Have questions? Use our contact form to get in touch with us today! Contact Us

Autumn is hay fever season. Theres also pollen, grass, pet dander and dust contributing to allergies. The most common symptoms are itchy and watery eyes and a stuffy nose. Can allergies affect your ears? Yes, in several ways.

Finding Relief From Sinus

Is My Sore Throat Caused By a Bacteria Infection or Allergies? Real Medical Advice from a Real Docto

You may be experiencing tooth discomfort as a result of seasonal allergies however, not all cases of tooth pain are allergy-related. A simple way to tell the difference and determine where the pain is coming from is to ask yourself if the pain you are feeling is mostly near your upper molars, or in one specific tooth.

To relieve tooth pain related to sinus pressure, incorporate the following tips into your everyday seasonal allergy routine :

  • Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
  • Incorporate foods that have been proven to reduce inflammation, as that is a significant factor in sinus-induced tooth pain.
  • Add Calcium and vitamin C supplements to your diet. Calcium-rich foods, such as broccoli, asparagus, leafy greens, and bean sprouts can counteract inflammation causing elements.
  • Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like the ones found in salmon.
  • Sleep with a humidifier to moisten the air and open your nasal passages to relieve sinus pressure.
  • Rinse your sinuses with a saline solution to clear any discharge and moisture.

When To See Your Dentist or Doctor

If your toothache affects more than just your top molars or the discomfort is isolated in one specific tooth, call your dentist to schedule an appointment to determine if tooth decay is a contributing factor in your distress.

Read Also: Can You Eat Twix With A Peanut Allergy

Taking An Antihistamine Makes Your Sore Throat Feel Better

If you do have allergies, you’re likely to experience other symptoms such as an itchy throat, watery eyes, sneezing, congestion, and a runny nose, says Goldstein. However, these symptoms should significantly improve if you take an antihistamine like Claritin or Benadryl. If you don’t feel your symptoms improve at all, you could be dealing with something else, including COVID. And for warning signs to be aware of, If You Have One of These COVID Symptoms, the CDC Says to Call 911.

Best Sore Throat Remedies To Make You Feel Better Fast According To Doctors

Some home remedies only mask painbut these solutions can help you get rid of your sore throat completely.

Sore throat symptoms can be rough. Your saliva goes down like sandpaper, every cough makes you wince, and the only thing you can think about is making that lump in the back of your throat go away.

But to ease the pain, you need to understand whats causing your sore throat in the first place: dry air, smoking, acid reflux, viral infections like the flu or common cold, and bacterial infections like strep can all lead to a sore throat.

In general, a viral infection usually comes with other symptoms, like muscle aches and fatigue, along with your sore throat, says Chester Griffiths MD, an otolaryngologist at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif. With a bacterial infection, on the other hand, the pain is usually more focused on your throat and the soreness tends to be pretty severe, Dr. Griffiths says. You may also have intense pain when you swallow, along with a high fever.

Exposure to smoke, breathing in dry air, and having acid reflux tends to feel very different from an infection, says Jason Abramowitz, MD, an ear, nose, and throat specialist at ENT and Allergy Associates. Usually patients do not feel as sick overall the pain is also usually not as severe, he says.

  • Severe, prolonged, or recurrent sore throats
  • Difficulty breathing, swallowing, or opening the mouth
  • Joint pains, earache, or a lump in the neck
  • Rash or a fever above 101°F
  • You May Like: Sudden Allergy To Shellfish

    A Tooth Infection Or Abscess

    This is a pocket of pus at the tip of the tooths root. It is caused by a bacterial infection and can cause severe pain that radiates from your ear and jaw on the same side. You may also find that your neck or throat becomes swollen and tender, and that you have trouble chewing. You may even experience a fever in severe cases.

    Read Also: Is There An Allergy To Cold Weather

    Can Allergies Cause Ear Infections

    Do you regularly experience sore throats? The medical ...

    Allergies can also lead to the development of ear infections. People who have seasonal or year long allergies are more likely to experience ear infections than those without.

    Environmental allergies can irritate the eustachian tube, which runs from the middle ear to the throat. The eustachian tube helps balance pressure between the outer and inner ear.

    An allergy can cause swelling around the eustachian tube, which can prevent fluid from draining away from the middle ear.

    If this fluid collects behind the ear drum, it increases the risk of bacteria and viruses growing in the fluid. These bacteria and viruses can cause an ear infection in the middle ear.

    Symptoms of a middle ear infection can appear suddenly and may include:

    • swelling

    Also Check: Can Food Allergies Make You Constipated

    What Is Sore Throat

    When your throat is irritated, inflamed, scratchy, painful, or very dry, its called sore throat. Your throat can be sore from a bacterial or viral infection, allergies or irritants, acid reflux, vocal overuse and strain, or even sleeping with your mouth open for too long. The pain may be worse when you swallow.

    Depending on whats causing your sore throat, you can often relieve the pain and irritation by drinking warm liquids or taking throat lozenges. Sore throat caused by a viral infection usually clears up on its own after a few days of rest. A throat infection caused by bacteria is called strep throat. Your doctor can prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacteria.

    Why Do Allergies Cause A Sore Throat

    First, allergies 101: If youre allergic to something, your body sees proteins in that substance as a foreign invader. And when those proteins get into your systemsay, by breathing in a whiff of dust or getting pollen blown into your eyesyour immune system launches an inflammatory response in an attempt to protect you.

    Part of that inflammatory response involves producing lots of extra mucus. The mucus helps propel the debris out of your body, but it can give you a runny nose and congestion. And thats not all. The ears, nose, and throat are all physically connected, so problems in one area can affect another, says William Reisacher, M.D., director of allergy services at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medicine in New York.

    As a result, that mucus can cause postnasal drip, where the gooky stuff dribbles down the back of your throat and makes it feel raw and irritated. Allergens can also trigger the tissues in the back of your throat to become inflamed, which only adds to the discomfort, says Dr. Mehdizadeh.

    Recommended Reading: Allergy Predictor

    You Feel Like You Have To Clear Your Throat Often

    , MD, a board-certified allergist and chief medical advisor at Curist, says it’s possible that your sore throat may just be allergies. In an article for Curist, Goldstein wrote that allergies often induce a post nasal drip, “which triggers throat clearing.” So if you find yourself having to clear your throat often, you could actually be dealing with a sore throat from allergies, not coronavirus. And for more on COVID complications, discover The “Very Strange” Long COVID Symptom Experts Are Warning About.

    How Can I Ease Sore Throat Pain

    6 Home Remedies For Coughing in Cold Nights | Health tips to Cure allergies Chest Pain Itchy throat

    Treatment for a sore throat depends on the cause. Some general tips to relieve sore throat discomfort include:

    • Drink warm fluids, such as hot tea with lemon or broth.
    • Increase the total amount of fluids you drink. This keeps you hydrated and prevents your throat from getting dry.
    • Gargle with salt water .
    • If you are an adult, keep your throat moist with throat lozenges, ice chips, or hard candies. Do not give lozenges or hard candies to children under two years of age. They are a choking hazard. Instead, give your child a popsicle.
    • Use a numbing throat spray or cold liquids to reduce pain.
    • Use a humidifier or vaporizer to add moisture to rooms you spend time in, especially your bedroom when you are sleeping.
    • Get plenty of rest — at least 8 hours of sleep a night.
    • Ask your doctor or pharmacist about possible over-the-counter medicines to try. Never give aspirin to children because it can cause Reyes syndrome. Do not give cough or cold medicines to children under four years of age unless your doctor tells you to.

    More specific sore throat treatments based on its cause include the following:

    To prevent infections that cause sore throat, wash your hands often , stay away from people who are sick and sneezing and coughing, and dont share utensils, food or drink with people who are sick.

    You May Like: Is Flaxseed A Nut Allergy

    Is My Sore Throat Covid

    A sore throat is pretty common, as far as symptoms of illness go. Sore throat can be caused by illnesses ranging from the non-serious to the dangerous.

    You can get a sore throat from the common cold. And if youve ever woken up with a sore throat after spending the day before cheering your heart out at a football game or screaming along to the lyrics at your favorite bands concert, you also know you dont need to be sick at all to get a sore throat.

    So, when should you worry about a sore throat? Thats a question made even more pressing by the COVID-19 pandemic. A sore throat is also a common symptom of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

    Suspect A Cold Dont Brush It Off

    Have COVID-19 questions?

    According to Brian Curtis, MD, vice president of Clinical Specialty Services for OSF HealthCare, a sore throat by itself is typically not something to worry about. Your throat could be irritated from allergies, air pollution or overuse. It could also be due to smoking, in which case the solution is simple . If a lone sore throat lingers longer than a week, however, you should contact your physician.

    And if you develop any other symptoms even milder symptoms you typically associate with a common cold you should contact your physician or get tested for COVID-19. The common cold and the virus that causes COVID-19 are both the same type of virus called a coronavirus and can cause similar symptoms.

    Mild cases of COVID-19 can even look to an average person exactly like a cold. But if you have a mild case of COVID-19, you could spread the coronavirus to someone who suffers a worse infection. You need to be sure you arent putting others at risk if you have any possible COVID-19 symptoms.

    We have to be very vigilant with cold symptoms, Dr. Curtis said. We as a society used to be kind of dismissive of cold symptoms, but we cant be dismissive of them now. If you have just a sore throat with no other symptoms, its less likely to be COVID-19. But with other symptoms, it is possible you have COVID. Sore throat, cough, fever I would be worried about COVID.

    Recommended Reading: Do Allergies Cause Loss Of Taste

    RELATED ARTICLES

    Most Popular