Dry heat and pollutants are among the many things that may cause or contribute to a scratchy dry throat. A person may also develop throat irritation because of allergies, respiratory illnesses, and bacterial infections. In some cases, chemicals a person uses and exposure to smoke from tobacco products may cause this symptom as well. Even the consumption of spicy foods may play a role in the development of a scratchy dry throat.

Dry indoor air is among the frequent causes of a scratchy dry throat. During the cold winter months and in cold climates, people use heating systems to stay warm indoors. This heat typically causes the air in the indoor environment to become dry, which often leads to the development of a scratchy dry throat. In many cases, a person may notice the throat irritation upon waking up in the morning. It can occur at any time of the day or night, however.

A scratchy dry throat may also occur in relation to an allergy. For example, a person with an allergy to pollen or animal dander may notice that his throat feels scratchy and dry when he is exposed to allergens. Even such substances as dust and mold may cause or contribute to the development of a scratchy dry throat. If an individual has post-nasal drip along with his allergies, the irritation may prove even worse.

Respiratory infections often cause a dry, scratchy throat as well. For example, a person who has a common cold or the flu may develop a sore throat as a symptom of the illness. In fact, with some types of cold and flu viruses, the scratchy dry throat is often the first symptom a person notices. Nasal congestion may contribute to this problem as well if it causes post-nasal drip.

A bacterial infection may also contribute to the development of a scratchy dry throat. For example, strep throat is a fairly common bacterial infection that causes sore throat symptoms. Whooping cough is another condition that results from a bacterial infection and causes sore throat symptoms. Diphtheria is yet another bacteria-caused infection that may lead to a dry, scratchy throat. Diphtheria is not common in developed countries, however; a person is more likely to contract it in a developing nation.

In many cases, environmental irritants are the cause when a person suffers from a dry, scratchy throat. For example, a person may develop throat irritation because of pollution in the air or chemicals he has used in an enclosed space. An individual may also develop a dry, scratchy throat because of exposure to cigar or cigarette smoke. Interestingly, even such things as chewing tobacco and spicy foods may cause a person to develop a dry, irritated throat.