Itchy throat and ears are not uncommon. There can be multiple reasons for your throat and ears to itch and feel discomfort. Some of the most obvious causes for your itching throat and ears include allergies and the common cold. These causes can be generally treated at home and are not something to be worried about.
However, there are multiple other causes for the itchy throat and ears which could indicate a serious underlying issue that must be checked in due time to be able to receive proper treatment. To know what causes itchy throat and ears and how to treat itchy throat and ears, keep reading!
What Causes Itchy Throat and Ears
The possible causes of pf itchy throat and ears could be as follows:
Hay Fever
Hay fever, also called allergic rhinitis, is caused when your immune system reacts to some environmental element that is usually non-harmful. It could include – mold, dust particles, pollen, smoke, perfume, and any other irritants.
The way your body reacts to such irritants could release chemical mediators which generally triggers allergy symptoms. Besides itchy throat and ears, there are several other symptoms of hay fever:
- Fatigue or weakness
- Blocked or runny nose
- Coughing and sneezing
- Watery and swollen eyes
- Itchy eyes, mouth, and/or skin
Common Cold
Most adults contract common cold twice or thrice, sneezing and coughing their way through the entire year. Cold is one of the most commonly afflicted diseases.
Multiple different viruses are the cause of the common cold. When someone sneezes or coughs, the water droplets containing the virus are suspended in the air which could spread and infect other people. The most common symptoms of common cold, besides itchy throat and ears, are:
- Runny or blocked nose
- Coughing and sneezing
- Sore throat
- Headaches
- Body aches
Food Allergies
Like seasonal allergies, food allergies occur when the body goes into overdrive when it has to deal with allergens such as fish, eggs, soy, walnuts, peanuts, etc.
Some fruits and vegetables, like apples, berries, bananas, oranges, tomatoes, carrots, etc. can also act as allergens, and cause you to react in the same way you’d react to pollen allergy. The allergies caused by certain foods can range from mild to severe.
Common symptoms of food allergy are:
- Stomach pain
- Vomiting
- Swelling of face
- Diarrhea
- Hives
Some food allergies can induce a severe reaction, putting you in a life-threatening situation. One such reaction is called anaphylaxis, which causes rashes, low pulse, and fatal shock. Other symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Rapid beating of the heart
- Dizziness and fainting
- Trouble in swallowing
- Closing up or tightness in the throat
If you’re having an anaphylactic reaction, it’d be best to go to a hospital immediately.
Drug allergies
Many medicinal drugs can cause side effects but a very minimal percentage of it is a true allergy that you should look out for. Just like other allergies, drug allergies occur when your body reacts to a medicinal drug/substance in the same way as it would react to germs. Most drug allergy reactions happen within a few hours and prolong until a couple of days after you take proper medication to cure it.
Symptoms of a drug allergy include:
- Itchy throat and ears
- Rashes on skin
- Hives
- Trouble in breathing
- Swelling
- Anaphylaxis
Dehydration
Dehydration is caused when your body loses more water than it intakes. It commonly occurs during summers, or after strenuous exercises, or during some illness.
Dehydration can cause dry mouth, which is usually a temporary condition where the mouth dries up with the lack of saliva, which causes itchy throat.
How to Treat Itchy Throat and Ears
There are several home remedies for itchy throat and ears. Since the itchiness can be annoying but not harmful to your life per se, some of these methods will provide you quick relief.
How to Treat Itchy Throat and EarsHome remedies will vary as per the different causes of the itchy throat and ears. But the following are some tried and tested remedies that will help you in most cases.
- Saltwater gargling: Put a half teaspoon of salt in a normal cup of warm water. Sip and gargle for ten seconds before spitting it out. Do not swallow the water. Repeat this twice or thrice a day.
- Honey: Eating a spoonful of raw, local honey every morning provides soothing relief to your itchy throat and ears.
- Hot ginger tea mixed with lemon and honey: Put one tablespoon of honey in a cup and pour hot water in it. Squeeze at least 2 lemon wedges in the mixture of hot honey water. Grate a small amount of ginger in it too. Mix it well before drinking it. Drink it twice or thrice a day.
- Apple cider vinegar mixture: Put one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a hot cup of water. Stir it well and once the water cools down, drink it. For better taste, you can also add a tablespoon of honey in it.
- Turmeric milk: This home remedy has been passed from our grandmothers to us and will continue to be helpful in the future too! Just put one tablespoon of turmeric in a saucepan, put a cup of milk and bring it to boil. Drink it once it has slightly cooled down. Drink it once at least every day until the itching is gone.
- Herbal teas: There are multiple kinds of herbal teas from which you can make your preferred choice. Some of them include – red clover, chamomile, tulsi mulethi, cinnamon, lemongrass, fennel, etc.
Other helpful self-care options to treat itchy throat and ears would be to use over the counter allergy medications and nasal sprays or any other commonly used cold medications.
How to Prevent Itchy Throat and Ears Allergies
If you often get itchy throat and ears then you should look into some of the lifestyle changes which would help you in the long term. Making some of these certain changes will reduce the number of such incidents as well as the length of your discomfort and itchiness.
Some of these changes to prevent itchy throat and ear allergies include:
- Quit smoking or reduce the number of times you smoke if you’re a heavy smoker
- Stay well hydrated to avoid dry mouth and throat
- Restricting your caffeine intake
- Reducing or avoiding your alcohol consumption
- Maintaining personal hygiene by washing your hands often to not contract cold and cough.
If you are suffering from itchy throat and ears, some of these home remedies should be of great help.
But, if the condition persists, it’d be advisable to check with your physician for a proper diagnosis and figure out the proper medication for the same.
Also Read: Natural Remedies for Sore Throat
