Do Allergies Cause a Sore Throat?
A sore throat is one of the most common reasons that people go to their healthcare provider. The two most common reasons for a sore throat are an infection with either a virus (the most common) or bacteria. But do allergies cause a sore throat? The answer is yes, a sore throat can occur due to certain allergies.
However, if you have certain other symptoms along with a sore throat, your throat problem may not just be due to allergies. Some clues that a sore throat might be from a virus include:
- A cough
- Runny nose
- Nasal congestion
- Irritation of the eyes (conjunctivitis or pink eye)
- Low-grade fever 101ºF (38.3ºC)
- Swelling of the lymph glands in the neck.
If you have a bacterial infection, the symptoms will differ from those of a viral infection. Strep throat is the most common bacterial cause of a sore throat. Besides a sore throat, possible signs or symptoms of a strep throat can include:
- A fever above 101ºF (38.3ºC)
- Red and enlarged tonsils
- Tender or swollen lymph glands in the neck.