What causes a sore, itchy throat and dry cough in summer?

Itchy throat and dry cough during summer may result from physiological factors, allergic reactions, or infections.

1. Physiological Factors

Itchy throat and dry cough in summer may be caused by excessive smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, or overconsumption of spicy or irritating foods—especially when accompanied by insufficient water intake. Chronic mouth breathing can also irritate the mucosa of the pharynx and larynx, leading to these symptoms, which are generally considered normal physiological phenomena.

2. Allergic Factors

Exposure to airborne irritants such as dust, pollen, poplar catkins, or animal dander—or ingestion of allergenic foods (e.g., crab, mango, durian)—may trigger an allergic reaction in the pharynx, resulting in itchy throat and dry cough during summer.

3. Infectious Factors

Infections—bacterial or viral—can cause illnesses such as the common cold, acute or chronic pharyngitis, or tonsillitis. These conditions often lead to pharyngeal edema and hyperemia, thereby inducing itchy throat and dry cough in summer.