Sore throat is a common problem in monsoon. That’s why you should know the causes of sore throat and remedies to stay prepared and minimise discomfort during monsoon season. The monsoon season brings respite from the heat, but also leads to humidity. The sticky feeling is not the only discomfort one feels during monsoon season. It is common for people to experience sore throat and common allergy when it rains. People may experience intense pain and irritation in the throat, difficulty in swallowing, cough, lethargy and sometimes even fever. Let us find out the causes of sore throat and remedies for it. 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. 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.1 This creates an inflammatory reaction that makes you feel downright crummy. 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.
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.
