Causes

While an occasional cough is normal, a cough that persists may be a sign of a medical problem.

A cough is considered "acute" if it lasts less than three weeks. It is considered "chronic" if it lasts longer than eight weeks (four weeks in children).

Some causes of coughs include:

Common causes � acute

• Common cold
• Influenza (flu)
• Inhaling an irritant (such as smoke, dust, chemicals or a foreign body)
• Pneumonia
• Whooping cough

Common causes � chronic

• Allergies
• Asthma (most common in children)
• Bronchitis
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Postnasal drip

Others

• Acute sinusitis (nasal and sinus infection)
• Bronchiectasis (a chronic lung condition in which abnormal widening of bronchial tubes inhibits mucus clearing)
• Bronchiolitis (especially in young children)
• Choking: First aid (especially in children)
• Chronic sinusitis
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) exacerbation — worsening of symptoms
• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Croup (especially in young children)
• Cystic fibrosis
• Emphysema
• Heart failure
• Laryngitis
• Lung cancer
• Medications called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
• Neuromuscular diseases that weaken the coordination of upper airway and swallowing muscles
• Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in an artery in the lung)
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) � especially in young children
• Sarcoidosis (collections of inflammatory cells in the body)
• Tuberculosis