Allergy Cough: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Coughing is often associated with the common cold, flu, and other respiratory infections. However, these viruses aren’t the only possible cause of coughing: Allergies, like hay fever, can also cause a dry, uncomfortable cough. Here, we’ll define an allergy cough, its typical symptoms, and how to alleviate it from home. 

What Is an Allergy Cough?

An allergy cough is a dry cough resulting from exposure to an allergen, like pollen, pet dander, dust, or mold. Allergy dry coughs are non-productive, meaning they don’t produce mucus. Additionally, this type of cough tends to feel like a tickle or itchiness in your throat.  

Allergy coughs result from the immune system’s response to an allergen. The immune cells attack the allergen like a foreign pathogen, releasing inflammatory chemicals that can cause inflammation in your airways. This swelling and irritation can trigger your cough reflex.¹ 

Unclear of the difference between an allergy cough vs. a cold cough? An allergy cough is usually dry and non-productive, so it doesn’t bring mucus into the mouth. It may also be accompanied by symptoms like itchy eyes, itchy nose, sneezing, and a skin rash. A cough cold, on the other hand, may be wet and productive as your body tries to expel excess mucus. 

Also, as you decipher the difference between an allergy cough and a cold or flu, note that an allergy cough generally occurs as you’re exposed to the allergen. For example, if you go outside and are exposed to pollen, you may start coughing right away. Cold coughs, however, may occur at any time during your cold infection, with no connection to your environment. 

Common Symptoms of an Allergy Cough

Allergy cough symptoms may include:¹

• A dry, non-productive cough

• An itchy, inflamed throat

• Coughing that gets worse when you’re exposed to an allergen

• Wheezing and shortness of breath

Additionally, an allergy cough will likely occur with other allergy symptoms, like:

• Itchy nose and eyes

• Runny nose

• Hives and skin rash

• Headache 

Allergy Cough Treatments

Allergy cough treatment may include medications, nasal irrigation, and allergy testing.

• Medications Wondering what to take for an allergy cough? Various medications can help with an allergy cough, including antihistamines, cough suppressants, and decongestants.
• Antihistamines are medications that block the chemicals your immune system releases when it encounters an allergen, called histamines. Many antihistamines are available over the counter, including loratadine, cetirizine, and fexofenadine.²
• Cough suppressants like dextromethorphan, the active ingredient in Delsym^® 12 Hour, temporarily relieve coughing by reducing activity in the part of the brain that controls your cough reflex.³
• Decongestants can help calm an allergy cough by reducing inflammation and opening up your airways.

• Nasal irrigation involves rinsing your sinuses with saline solution, helping to remove allergens from your airways. This moisturizes your sinuses while getting rid of allergen particles that may be triggering your symptoms, including a dry cough.⁴
• Allergy testing, like a skin prick test, is a good idea if you’re not sure what’s causing your allergy symptoms. The test can reveal which substance you’re allergic to, allowing you to more effectively avoid it and prevent an allergy cough.⁵

Long-Term Allergy Management Tips

Unfortunately, allergies are often a long-term health issue. While you can avoid certain allergy triggers to an extent, it’s difficult to completely avoid certain allergens, like pollen. To effectively manage allergies in the long run, try following these tips. 

Stay Hydrated

Dehydration increases levels of histamine in the body, which can worsen allergy symptoms.⁶ So, staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water, especially if you’re sweating or in hot weather, can help you manage allergies and prevent an uncomfortable dry cough. 

Allergy-Proof Your Home

Allergens like pollen, pet dander, dust mites, mold, and cockroach droppings can accumulate in your home, increasing your risk of ongoing allergy symptoms. Thankfully, there are many ways to allergy-proof your home and prevent an allergy cough in kids and adults in your household, including: 

• Cover your mattress, pillows, and box springs to protect them from dust mites. 

• Launder bedding in hot water at least once weekly. 

• Stick to hardwood flooring and washable rugs to prevent allergens from accumulating in carpeting. 

• Vacuum at least once weekly. 

• When pollen counts are high, close your windows and use an air conditioner. 

• Declutter your home to limit items that gather dust. 

• Use an air filter with a small-particle filter and clean or replace the filter as recommended. 

• Keep your pets out of the bedroom and brush and bathe them regularly. 

• Never leave food out uncovered, as it can attract cockroaches. 

• Use an exhaust fan in the bathroom to prevent mold development. 

• In humid areas of your home, use a dehumidifier to curb mold growth.  

Home Remedies for Allergy Cough

Looking for natural home remedies to ease your allergy cough? Try using a humidifier, setting up an air purifier, drinking herbal tea, and inhaling steam. 

Humidifiers and Air Purifiers

Humidifying and purifying the air in your home can help with an allergy cough by hydrating your airways and reducing your exposure to airborne irritants.

Humidifiers release moisture in the air, which can soothe your airways and prevent dry coughing. Especially if you live in a dry climate and experience allergy coughs frequently, a humidifier may be a good investment for your long-term health.⁷ 

Air purifiers, on the other hand, filter contaminants like dust, pollen, pet dander, and mold out of the air. They can reduce your exposure to airborne allergens, helping to reduce your allergy symptoms. 

While using a humidifier and air purifier alone may not cure your allergy cough, in combination with other home remedies, it can help make your symptoms manageable.⁸ 

Herbal Teas and Steam Inhalation

Herbal tea is more than a delightful beverage; it can also help soothe your throat to prevent coughing. The warm liquid can calm the irritated throat tissue while herbs, like ginger, provide a natural anti-inflammatory boost.⁹ Stir honey into your tea to enhance its cough-relieving properties, as honey is proven to calm cough symptoms.¹⁰

Steam inhalation is one simple way to relieve a dry cough, at least temporarily. Similar to a humidifier, inhaling steam moisturizes your airway, helping to calm your cough reflex. You can pour boiling water into a bowl and inhale the steam, or take a warm shower or bath. 

When to Seek Medical Help for an Allergy Cough

Allergy coughs can usually be managed with home remedies and over-the-counter allergy treatments. However, contact your doctor for professional medical care if you experience:¹¹

• A cough that doesn’t go away after a few weeks

• Wheezing or shortness of breath

• Difficulty breathing or swallowing

• Chest pain 

• A cough that produces thick, yellow/green, or bloody phlegm

• Fainting

• Unexplained weight loss

• A cough that leads to vomiting

Resources

1. Cough. ACAAI Public Website. https://acaai.org/allergies/symptoms/cough/
2. Antihistamines. NHS. Published 2019. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/antihistamines/
3. Dextromethorphan: MedlinePlus Drug Information. Medline Plus. Published 2019. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682492.html
4. Lin L, Chen Z, Cao Y, Sun G. Normal Saline Solution Nasal-Pharyngeal Irrigation Improves Chronic Cough Associated with Allergic Rhinitis. American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy. 2017;31(2):96-104. doi:https://doi.org/10.2500/ajra.2017.31.4418
5. Allergy Testing | Mount Sinai - New York. Mount Sinai Health System. https://www.mountsinai.org/care/allergy-immunology/allergy-testing
6. Kjaer A, Larsen PJ, Knigge U, Warberg J. Dehydration stimulates hypothalamic gene expression of histamine synthesis enzyme: importance for neuroendocrine regulation of vasopressin and oxytocin secretion. Endocrinology. 1995;136(5):2189-2197. doi:https://doi.org/10.1210/endo.136.5.7720668
7. Baughn J. Warm-mist versus cool-mist humidifier: Which is better for a cold? Mayo Clinic. Published May 11, 2023. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/expert-answers/cool-mist-humidifiers/faq-20058199
8. Air Filter | Treatment. ACAAI Public Website. https://acaai.org/allergies/management-treatment/living-with-allergies/air-filters/
9. Khodaie L, Sadeghpoor O. Ginger from ancient times to the new outlook. Jundishapur journal of natural pharmaceutical products. 2015;10(1):e18402. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4377061/
10. Oduwole O, Udoh EE, Oyo-Ita A, Meremikwu MM. Honey for acute cough in children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Published online April 10, 2018. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd007094.pub5
11. Cough When to see a doctor. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/cough/basics/when-to-see-doctor/sym-20050846