Dry throat and cough can be caused by colds, allergies, dry air, or dehydration. Treatment includes cold medicine, hydration, humidifiers, and allergy medication.
Colds are one of the most common causes of dry throat and cough, usually due to nasal congestion leading to runny nose. This will then lead to throat irritation, which often feels like a “tickle” in the throat causing a persistent cough as long as the nasal congestion lasts. Sometimes, dry air, allergies, or just a lack of hydration during the day can cause a dry throat and cough. A productive cough, which can be caused by a chest cold, is usually not accompanied by a dry throat and typically occurs at the end of a cold when the congestion has moved to the chest.
If your dry throat and cough are caused by nasal congestion and runny nose due to a cold, one of the best ways to treat it is with cold medicine to help relieve the congestion. Also, be sure to blow your nose rather than sniff all day, which can make dry throat and cough worse, and can also lead to sinus infections that generally require antibiotics to treat. As with any cold, it’s important to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated, which can also help moisturize your throat. Even cough drops can help in a pinch.
Dry air in your home or workplace, and especially when you sleep at night, is another common cause of dry throat and cough. Forced air conditioning or heat can both lead to dryness and irritation in the throat. This can be helped by drinking hot herbal tea with lemon and honey, or by sleeping with a humidifier on at night or even during the day if necessary to better hydrate the air. Standing over a pot of steaming hot water or taking a hot shower can also help moisten the nose and throat and ease a cough.
Seasonal or pet allergies can also lead to a dry throat and cough. It may be helpful to try to eliminate the source of the allergies as much as possible, for example by installing an air purifier. Allergy medications may help, although some people find that these medications make their throats feel even drier. Again, staying hydrated is one of the best ways to prevent a cough and itchy throat, as well as ease the pain of a sore throat and recover from a cold faster.
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