Sore throat from coughing: what helps

Each cough moves air forcefully across already sensitive throat tissue. Repeated coughing can create a scratchy, raw feeling and make swallowing uncomfortable. A common cold, influenza or COVID-19 may begin with cough and throat pain. Allergic rhinitis can cause mucus to drain down the throat, prompting cough, and acid reflux can trigger a dry cough or burning irritation. Strep throat and tonsillitis are other possible causes of throat pain, although a cough may point toward a different pattern.

Describe whether your cough is dry or brings up mucus, whether it is worse at night, and whether you have wheezing, breathlessness, fever, blocked nose or a sour taste. Those clues are more useful than the throat pain alone.

Sip water often, try warm fluids, and rest your voice. Avoid smoke, strong fragrances and very dry air. Honey in a warm drink may soothe a cough for adults and children over one year old; never give honey to an infant. A pharmacist can advise on suitable cough or pain-relief products, taking your age, pregnancy status and medicines into account. Treating nasal congestion or reflux may help when either is driving the cough.

Get urgent help for severe breathing difficulty, blue or grey lips, coughing blood, confusion, chest pain, or inability to swallow fluids. Arrange a review if the cough is worsening, disrupts sleep repeatedly, comes with persistent fever, or the sore throat is severe or not settling. Children, older adults and people with long-term lung disease may need advice earlier.

What may be triggering my cough? Should I be checked for infection, asthma, reflux or nasal allergy? Which treatments are safe with my current medicines? What changes would mean I should seek help promptly?