Dry heat and pollutants are among the many things that can cause or contribute to a dry itchy throat. A person can also develop a sore throat due to allergies, respiratory illnesses, and bacterial infections. In some cases, the chemicals a person uses and exposure to smoke from tobacco products can also cause this symptom. Even the consumption of spicy foods can play a role.
Dry indoor air is among the common causes of a dry, scratchy throat. During the winter months and in cold climates, people often use heating systems to keep warm indoors. This heat often makes indoor air dry, which can irritate your throat. In many cases, a person may notice the scratch upon waking up in the morning, although it can occur at any time of the day or night.
People with allergies can also develop this symptom. For example, a person with a pollen allergy may notice that her throat feels sore and dry when she goes outside in the spring. Even substances like pet hazard, dust, and mold can cause or contribute to a dry throat. If an individual has postnasal drip along with her allergies, the irritation can be even worse.
Respiratory infections often cause a dry, scratchy throat as well. Someone who has a cold or flu may develop a sore throat as a symptom of the illness. In fact, with some types of cold and flu viruses, a dry, itchy throat is often the first symptom a person notices. Nasal congestion can also contribute to this problem if it causes postnasal drip.
A bacterial infection can also cause this problem, and strep throat is a fairly common source. Whooping cough and diphtheria are other diseases caused by bacteria that have throat irritation as the main symptom. However, diphtheria is not common in developed countries.
In many cases, environmental irritants are the cause when a person suffers from a dry, itchy throat. A person can develop a sore throat due to pollution in the air or chemicals that he has used in an enclosed space. Cigarette or cigarette smoke can also be a major cause. Interestingly, even things like chewing tobacco and spicy foods can cause a person to develop a dry, sore throat.