Is Your Child's Sore Throat Caused By Allergies?
Seasonal allergies come with a runny nose and sneezing, but can they also cause a sore throat? Here, experts discuss the link between postnasal drip and throat irritation.
Getty Images / BSIP
Medically reviewed by Michael Pistiner, M.D.
Sore throats can be tricky symptoms in kids. Does the scratchiness mean they have a cold or the flu? What about strep throat or COVID-19? As it turns out, an irritated throat can sometimes be nothing more than seasonal allergies. You can thank the mucus that runs down the back of your throat from excess production (called postnasal drip).
Keep reading to learn why allergies cause a sore throat and how to ease the irritation. We also break down other causes of sore throat so you can determine whether to visit the doctor.
Why Does My Kid Have Allergies?
Allergies happen when the body perceives a foreign substance as a threat, and the immune system produces an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE) and histamine. This creates an inflammatory reaction that makes you feel downright crummy.
Allergies can be triggered by pollen, animal dander, dust mites, mold, and more. Common allergy symptoms include:
Sneezing
Congestion
Runny nose
Sinus pressure
Itchiness around the eyes and nose
Dark circles under the eyes (allergic shiners)
Under the right circumstances, allergy sufferers could develop a sore throat as well.
Getty Images / BSIP
How Do Seasonal Allergies Cause a Sore Throat?
Children with allergies often have increased mucus production in the nasal passages that drips down the back of the throat. This is called postnasal drip, explains Sanjeev Jain, MD, 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."
Aside from sore throat, other symptoms can indicate postnasal drip caused by allergies. These include a feeling of mucus dripping down your throat, coughing, hoarseness, throat clearing, and excess swallowing.
What Does Allergy-Induced Sore Throat Feel Like?
If a sore throat is caused allergies and postnasal drip, it might feel itchy or scratchy. Some people feel like they have to constantly clear their throat. You might also feel the mucus dripping down.
Is Something Else Causing the Sore Throat?
Sore throat can have other causes besides allergies. For example, it often appears with viral upper respiratory infections (like colds or influenza) and bacterial infections (like strep throat), says Natasha Burgert, MD, a board-certified pediatrician for Pediatric Associates in Overland Park, Kansas. Sore throat might also be a symptom of COVID-19 in kids, as well as irritation from smoking or secondhand smoke.
Related: Is It Allergies or a Cold? Here's How to Tell the Difference
So how can you tell what your child is suffering from? Here are some indicators:
Fever, chills, and gastrointestinal symptoms (like vomiting or diarrhea) don't usually appear with seasonal allergies, and they offer additional clues suggesting viral infections.
Infections generally last for one or two weeks, while allergies stick around as long as your child is exposed to the allergen.
Allergy symptoms tend to improve with antihistamines and avoidance of the allergen. Colds, flus, and other infections don't respond to these measures.
Contact your pediatrician if you don't know the cause of your child's sore throat; they may need to diagnose and treat it.
How to Treat a Sore Throat from Allergies
Many times, you can treat allergies (and the sore throat it might cause) with medication or natural remedies. Serious or prolonged allergies might need treatment with allergy shots from a medical provider.
Medication
According to Dr. Burgert, you can treat allergy-induced sore throat with over-the counter-pain medication like Tylenol or Motrin. Even better, you can eliminate the cause of the sore throat (allergy-induced postnasal drop) with antihistamines like Zyrtec, Claritin, or Allegra. Steroid nasal sprays can also decrease the production of watery mucus but take a few days to start working.
Related: The Best Allergy Medicines and Treatments for Kids
Natural Remedies
As a natural allergy treatment, allergy-prone children should reduce their exposure to the allergen as much as possible. For example, children allergic to pollen shouldn't sleep with bedroom windows open during the pollen season, and they should shower before bedtime to remove as much pollen as possible. Similarly, children with allergies to dogs or cats should be kept away from these animals. Keeping hydrated, consuming warm beverages, and using high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters may also help.
Allergy Shots
If your child has serious or prolonged allergy symptoms, talk with a doctor, who may diagnose allergies by examining your child and reviewing their symptoms and medical history. In some cases, the doctor will conduct blood or skin tests to make a diagnosis, and they might recommend prescription medication or treatment with allergy shots (immunotherapy). These shots inject allergens into your body with an increasing dosage over time, which help your immune system become less sensitive to the allergen.
When to Seek Medical Care
Seek medical care immediately for the following symptoms:
Trouble breathing
Feeling like your throat is closing
Sore throat that gets worse quickly
Sore throat that won't go away with home treatment
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