What is an itchy palate?
Itching of the palate is a symptom that manifests itself by a tingling sensation in the area of the palate up to the transition to the pharynx. The tingling can affect the entire palate or just a part of it. For those affected, the itchy palate is usually an unpleasant and very annoying feeling; their general condition may suffer. People who suffer from itchy palate are often known to have one or more allergies.
Causes
The following diseases, among others, lead to an itchy palate:
- A common cause of itchy palate is allergic rhinitis. In this disease, in addition to itching of the palate, symptoms such as watery nasal secretion, a swollen nasal mucosa, sneezing attacks and itchy and watery eyes can occur.
- Another possible cause is a cold in the context of a viral or bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract, including the nasopharynx.
- A lack of vitamin D is a rarer cause.
- Underactive thyroid glands can also cause itching. As in the case of vitamin D deficiency, a dry mouth occurs first, which then triggers the itching on the palate.
Allergic rhinitis is based on a misdirected reaction of the human immune system to certain substances from the environment (allergens).
The immune system recognizes the allergens as foreign to the body and starts a defense reaction. Pollen from trees, grasses and herbs are possible allergens. When breathing, they enter the human body via the nasopharynx and the oral cavity (including the palate).
This is where the first contact with the immune system takes place. Therefore, symptoms such as an itchy palate or a swollen nasal mucosa also occur there as a sign of the body’s defensive reaction. But other allergies can also be the trigger of an itchy palate.
For example, a food allergy should also be considered. Also here allergens, which are contained this time in the food, can lead to a defense reaction of the immune system at the first contact surface (oral cavity) and cause thereby an itching palate. A cold is also a possible cause for an itchy palate.
The first sign of this is often a dry, scratchy or even itchy feeling in the area of the throat or palate. These symptoms are signs of irritation of the mucous membranes, which are infested by pathogens, usually viruses. However, a simple cold is usually completely harmless and the unpleasant itching in the palate does not last long in such a case. Often the annoying feeling in the throat disappears by itself or manifest sore throats develop. In such cases, rest and protection is required.
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