A: It’s incredibly common for an allergic reaction in your throat to mimic the sensation of a true throat infection. This happens because both conditions cause inflammation in the same delicate tissues of your throat, and inflammation often results in a similar set of uncomfortable feelings.
When your body encounters allergens like pollen, dust, or even specific foods, your immune system kicks into gear, releasing chemicals like histamine. These chemicals increase blood flow, leading to swelling in your throat’s mucous membranes. This typically manifests as a sensation of tightness, an irritating itch, or general soreness, often prompting you to clear your throat. Additionally, the dreaded postnasal drip that often accompanies allergies can further heighten this irritation.
Conversely, a throat infection occurs when viruses or bacteria directly attack your throat tissues. Your immune system then sends in white blood cells to combat these invaders, causing redness, swelling, and pain. With an infection, you might experience more intense discomfort, especially when swallowing, along with broader symptoms affecting your whole body, such as fever, body aches, and fatigue. Specific bacterial infections, like strep throat, can even cause noticeable white patches or pus on your tonsils – symptoms you won’t typically see with allergies.
Given these similarities, it’s easy to get confused. Both allergies and infections trigger the same nerve endings in your throat, sending comparable signals of pain and irritation to your brain. However, the secret to telling them apart lies in paying close attention to specific clues: if you’re experiencing itching and sneezing without a fever, it’s likely an allergy. If, instead, you have a fever and generally feel unwell throughout your body, an infection is probably the culprit.