How do you get rid of a tickle in the throat?

The key to getting rid of a tickle in the throat is understanding what is causing it and devising a treatment strategy accordingly.
If the cough from the tickle becomes chronic and the tickle lingers, the condition is classified as a tickle in the throat.

Causes

A tickle in the throat may be due to inflammation of the voice box, or a sore throat. In most cases, this condition is irritating and may be due to: 

• a post-nasal drip
• sinusitis
• sore throat
• inflammation of the voice box
• asthma

A tickle in the throat can feel like a snag and an itchy or rough patch in the back of the mouth. People may also be hoarse and have difficulty speaking.
If post-nasal drip is the cause of the tickle, the throat can feel irritated and sore. Individuals may also feel as if they have a lump in their throats, which is often due to swelling of the tonsils.

How do you get rid of it? 

Common causes of a tickle in the throat include:

• post-nasal drip 
• sore throat
• allergies
• sinusitis
• dehydration
• GERD
• environmental irritants
• asthma

Post-nasal drip

The best way to treat a tickle in the throat due to post-nasal drip is by addressing the root cause of this increase in mucus production. Common causes are allergies, GERD, and bacterial or viral infections.
In some cases, it is not possible to identify the cause of post-nasal drip, and general home remedies are the usual recommendation.

Sore throat

A sore throat can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection.

Allergies

To get rid of a tickle in the throat that is due to an allergy, a person must identify what is causing the allergy and then avoid it. Identifying an allergic substance can be done with the assistance of an allergist.
When it is not possible to avoid allergens, such as pollen in the air, medications that include antihistamines can help reduce the irritation.

Sinus infection

A sinus infection, otherwise known as sinusitis, is another common cause of a tickle in the throat.
If a cold lasts for more than 10 days, or starts to get better but then gets worse again, it may mean that the sinuses have been infected.
Infections caused by bacteria may be treated with antibiotics while viral infections are addressed with over-the-counter pain relievers and nasal treatments.

Dehydration

Increasing production of saliva can help reduce the symptoms of dehydration and eliminate the tickle in the throat that it causes.
Popsicles and ice chips can also help calm a ticklish throat, as can the use of a humidifier to add moisture to the air a person is breathing.

Dust

Environmental irritants, such as dust, air pollution, and cigarette smoke, can all cause a tickle in the throat. One of the best ways to address this is by quitting smoking and limiting exposure to smoke.

GERD

GERD can be treated with a mixture of medication and lifestyle changes, such as sleeping with the head elevated and modifying eating and drinking habits. These steps can help people manage a tickle in the throat caused by acid reflux.

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic lung condition where the airways become inflamed and narrowed, making it difficult to breathe.
For some people, a tickle in the throat and a chronic cough are their main asthma symptoms.
People with asthma need to work closely with their doctor to develop and follow a treatment plan that can control their symptoms.

Home remedies

Home remedies, including hot lemon and honey tea, may be recommended to relieve a tickle in the throat.

Because a tickle in the throat is a common symptom and usually not linked to serious health conditions, many sufferers turn to home remedies for relief.
There is a wide variety of these to choose from, including:

• hot tea with lemon or honey
• hot soup
• tonic made from hot water, lemon juice, honey, and cayenne pepper
• ginger tea
• throat lozenges or hard candies
• drinking more water 
• avoiding caffeine
• using a humidifier to keep the air from becoming too dry
• getting plenty of rest
• soothing airways with hot steam, showers, or baths
• sage to ease throat discomfort

When to see a doctor

Sometimes people go to the doctor because they think they have a chronic cough or tickle in their throat, but this is not usually the case.
If the tickle in the throat lingers for more than 3 weeks and is accompanied by swollen glands, a fever, difficulty swallowing, wheezing, weight loss, or other more serious symptoms, a person should see a doctor.

Individuals suffering from a tickle in the throat may choose to work with an allergist to determine whether or not allergies are causing their throat irritation. Similarly, they may want to learn to avoid triggers of an allergic response.