Does hay fever cause a sore throat? 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People can try to avoid allergens to reduce symptoms. They may also take medications or use home remedies. Sometimes, hay fever can cause a sore throat. A sore throat might feel dry or scratchy. It can also make it painful to swallow. Doctors sometimes call hay fever allergic rhinitis. It is a type of allergic reaction. Allergies happen when the body’s immune system reacts to a harmless substance as if it were harmful. People with hay fever may be allergic to:grass pollentree pollenweed pollenmold sporespet hair or danderdust mites Doctors call the substance a person is allergic to an allergen. This article explains hay fever and some of the most common symptoms. It also outlines other common causes of a sore throat and suggests home remedies and medications. Learn more about allergies. Why does hay fever cause a sore throat Share on PinterestMuriel de Seze/Getty ImagesRhinitis means inflammation of the inside of the nose. Allergic rhinitis or hay fever happens when someone has exposure to an environmental allergen. When someone has an allergic reaction, the immune system thinks the allergen is dangerous. It responds by releasing histamine and other chemicals that cause symptoms in the nose, eyes, throat, skin, and roof of the mouth. Glands in the nose and throat are always making mucus. Usually, people swallow it without even noticing. When someone has hay fever, the body makes too much mucus for them to swallow unconsciously. It can gather in the back of the throat or drip from the back of the nose. Doctors call this postnasal drip. One of the symptoms of postnasal drip is a sore or irritated throat. Learn more about hay fever. Symptoms of hay fever Common hay fever symptoms include:a runny noseitchy eyes, nose, roof of the mouth, and throat sneezinga blocked or stuffy nosedark circles under the eyeswatery eyes Other causes of sore throat Many different things can cause a sore throat. They include:viral infections, including a common cold, flu, and COVID-19strep throat, which is a bacterial infectionenvironmental irritantssmokingbeing exposed to second-hand smoke Learn about the causes of a chronic sore throat. Home remedies According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are ways people can ease the symptoms of a sore throat. They include:sucking on ice chips or popsiclesusing a humidifierusing a cool mist vaporizergargling with salt waterdrinking warm beverages It is important to keep the throat moist when it is sore. Drinking plenty of fluids and sucking on hard candies or lozenges to stimulate saliva production may help. Learn about 15 natural remedies for a sore throat. Over-the-counter OTC medications People can also use OTC medications to help with hay fever symptoms, including a sore throat. They include: Antihistamines Antihistamines are drugs that block the effects of the chemical histamine. This eases hay fever symptoms, including the postnasal drip that can lead to a sore throat. Antihistamines are most effective if a person takes them before symptoms develop. Some antihistamines are available OTC, and some need a doctor’s prescription. They can cause side effects, so a person should check the product label carefully or ask a doctor before taking them. Learn more about antihistamines. Nasal sprays Nasal corticosteroids, such as fluticasone, mometasone, and budesonide, are the most effective treatment for allergic rhinitis. They reduce nasal inflammation causing less sneezing, runny nose, and sore throat. Nasal antihistamines, such as azelastine and olopatadine, are topical versions of oral antihistamines and are quite effective hay fever treatments. Saline nasal sprays can help keep nasal passages moist and reduce thick nasal mucus. A doctor may recommend douching the nasal passage, which a person can do as often as necessary. Nasal cromolyn (Nasalcrom) stops the body from releasing allergy-causing chemicals. It prevents allergic reactions if a person takes it before exposure to an allergen. Learn how to make a saline solution at home. Decongestants Decongestants help relieve stuffiness and pressure in the nose but do not relieve other hay fever symptoms, such as a sore throat. They are available as tablets, syrups, and nasal sprays. Learn about the best medications for congestion. Pain killers OTC pain relief medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can help to ease the pain and discomfort of a sore throat. Learn about the best medications for seasonal allergies. Prevention The best way for a person to prevent hay fever symptoms, including a sore throat, is to avoid allergens. However, that is not always possible. The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) suggests the following ways to avoid hay fever triggers:closing windows when pollen counts are highwearing glasses outdoors to keep pollen from the eyesusing mite-proof bedding and vacuuming the mattress regularlywashing hands after petting an animalavoiding hanging bedding or clothing outside to dryminimizing outdoor activities between 5–10 a.m. when pollen is at its highestavoiding mowing the lawn if grass causes symptomsavoiding raking leaves during the pollen season When to contact a doctor Anyone who thinks they may have COVID-19 should speak with a doctor about getting a test. The ACAAI says people with allergies such as hay fever should consult a doctor if:they have a lot of sinus infections or nasal congestionthey have difficulty breathingthey have hay fever symptoms for several months of the yearOTC antihistamines do not workhay fever symptoms are interfering with everyday life Frequently asked questions Below are answers to some common questions about hay fever and sore throat: Is it hay fever or COVID-19 Hay fever and COVID-19 can have similar symptoms. However:the main symptoms of hay fever are sneezing, a runny nose, and itchy eyesthe most common symptoms of COVID-19 are coughing and a feverCOVID-19 can sometimes cause joint pain, whereas hay fever does notCOVID-19 can change a person’s sense of taste or smell, and hay fever does not If someone is unsure whether they have hay fever or COVID-19 can take a COVID-19 test. Learn about the early symptoms of COVID-19. How long does hay fever sore throat last In some people, hay fever symptoms, including a sore throat, resolve after a few days. For others, they will last for as long as the person has exposure to the allergen, which can be weeks or months. Outlook There is no cure for hay fever, although medications and allergen immunotherapy may help. Hay fever symptoms, including a sore throat, tend to last for a few days or weeks. They will usually go away when the allergen exposure ends. Many people with hay fever use antihistamines to control their symptoms. Summary Hay fever is an allergic reaction to substances such as pollens, dust mites, pet hair, and mold. It may cause sneezing, itchy eyes, and postnasal drip. Postnasal drip can cause a sore throat. Many people use antihistamines to ease hay fever symptoms. Home remedies, such as sucking on ice chips, can also help ease a sore throat. People can avoid exposure to common allergens by closing windows when pollen is high and wearing glasses outdoors. If someone experiences hay fever symptoms for several months of the year or their symptoms are interfering with daily activities, they should contact a doctor. Last medically reviewed on September 13, 2022AllergyEar, Nose, and ThroatSeasonal AllergyDrugs 7 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Hay fever. (n.d.)https://acaai.org/allergies/allergic-conditions/hay-fever/Hay fever or COVID-19: How do the symptoms differ? (2020).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556944/Hay fever / rhinitis. (n.d.).https://www.aaaai.org/Conditions-Treatments/Allergies/Hay-Fever-RhinitisHoyte, F. C. L., et al. (2018). Recent advances in allergic rhinitis.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6107993/Post-nasal drip. (2018).https://www.enthealth.org/conditions/post-nasal-drip/Rhinitis (nasal allergies). (2015).https://www.aafa.org/rhinitis-nasal-allergy-hayfever/Sore throat. (2021).https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/sore-throat.htmlFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Marc Meth, MD, FACAAI, FAAAI — By Amanda Barrell on September 13, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? 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