Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCommon CausesCommon Causes in ChildrenLess Common CausesUncommon CausesDiagnosis

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Common Causes

Common Causes in Children

Less Common Causes

Uncommon Causes

Diagnosis

Apersistent cough—a cough that lasts eight weeks or longer—can be asignof asthma, allergies, or a chest infection.Also known as a chronic, lingering, or nagging cough, a persistent cough can interfere with sleep and affect your quality of life.

This article explores common and uncommon causes of persistent cough in adults and children. It also explains how the cause of a persistent cough is diagnosed.

Verywell / Nez Riaz

An illustration with possible causes of persistent cough

Cough Durations Defined

Postnasal Drip

Postnasal dripfrom hay fever (allergic rhinitis), sinus infections, nasal polyps, or other conditions is the most common cause of a chronic cough. These are referred to as upper airway conditions.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis comes and goes with a seasonal pattern, and year-round causes of allergies might not have a consistent pattern.

Asthma

Asthma can cause persistent and intermittent coughing, and it usually also causes other symptoms, such as wheezing and shortness of breath. These symptoms generally will occur together when asthma is flaring up.

Cough-variant asthmais a type of asthma where cough is the most noticeable symptom.

Acid Reflux

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)can cause a chronic cough. Some people don’t have typical symptoms such as heartburn, and the only symptom may be a chronic cough.

Cough due to GERD is usually worse at night after lying down in bed.

Eosinophilic Bronchitis

The diagnosis can be somewhat challenging because lung function tests are usually normal. The condition usually responds to inhaled steroids.

The most common causes of a cough are not the same for children and adults. Common causes of chronic cough in a very young child can include:

What’s causing my child’s cough?

These are less common, but not rare, causes of a chronic cough:

There are many other less common conditions that can cause a cough. Some of these can be life-threatening and may worsen if they aren’t diagnosed and treated quickly.

Examples of uncommon causes of a persistent cough include;

It is important to make an appointment with your doctor if you have acough that persists.

Questions you may be asked at your medical visit may include:

Tests to Evaluate a Persistent Cough

Depending on the severity of your cough, your healthcare professional will give you treatment to control your symptoms and make you feel more comfortable. They may also recommend tests to determine the cause.

Blood tests may be done to look for any evidence of infection.

You may have a chest X-ray or a chest computerized tomography (CT) scan.If you have symptoms of sinusitis, a CT scan of your sinuses may be recommended.

Other tests that may be recommended include:

When Is a Persistent Cough an Emergency?Seek immediate medical attention for a persistent cough with any of the following symptoms:Chest painCoughing up bloodLightheadednessShortness of breath

When Is a Persistent Cough an Emergency?

Seek immediate medical attention for a persistent cough with any of the following symptoms:Chest painCoughing up bloodLightheadednessShortness of breath

Seek immediate medical attention for a persistent cough with any of the following symptoms:

Summary

While most causes of a persistent cough are mild and easily treatable, a lingering cough could be a symptom of a more serious health condition. Uncommon but serious conditions that may cause a chronic cough include cancer, lung disease, fungal infections, or heart failure.

A persistent cough is annoying and can disrupt your quality of life. Getting prompt and effective treatment will help you feel—and sleep—better.

13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gibson P, Wang G, Mcgarvey L, et al.Treatment of unexplained chronic cough: CHEST guideline and expert panel report.Chest. 2016;149(1):27-44. doi:10.1378/chest.15-1496Harvard University Medical School, Harvard Health Publishing.That nagging cough.Irwin RS, French CL, Chang AB, Altman KW.Classification of cough as a symptom in adults and management algorithms: CHEST guideline and expert panel report.Chest. 2018;153(1):196-209. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2017.10.016Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Women’s Health Watch.By the way, doctor: what causes acid reflux in the throat?American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Asthma cough.Yıldız T, Dülger S.Non-astmatic eosinophilic bronchitis.Turk Thorac J. 2018;19(1):41–5. doi:10.5152/TurkThoracJ.2017.17017Michaudet C, Malaty J.Chronic cough: Evaluation and management.Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(9):575-580.Field SK, Escalante P, Fisher DA, Ireland B, Irwin RS.Cough due to TB and other chronic infections: CHEST guideline and expert panel report.Chest. 2018;153(2):467-497. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2017.11.018Ng LP, Goh PS.Incidence of discontinuation of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors due to cough, in a primary healthcare centre in Singapore. Singapore Med J. 2014;55(3):146-9. doi:10.11622/smedj.2014034French CT, Irwin RS.Cough.Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2016;194(8):P15-P16. doi:10.1164/rccm.1948P15Irwin RS, Baumann MH, Bolser DC, Boulet LP, Braman SS, Brightling CE, Brown KK, Canning BJ, Chang AB, Dicpinigaitis PV, Eccles R, Glomb WB, Goldstein LB, Graham LM, Hargreave FE, Kvale PA, Lewis SZ, McCool FD, McCrory DC, Prakash UBS, Pratter MR, Rosen MJ, Schulman E, Shannon JJ, Hammond CS, Tarlo SM.Diagnosis and management of cough executive summary: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.Chest.2006 Jan;129(1 Suppl):1S-23S. doi:10.1378/chest.129.1_suppl.1SAmerican Heart Association.Warning signs of heart failure.Turner RD, Bothamley GH.Chronic cough and a normal chest X-ray - a simple systematic approach to exclude common causes before referral to secondary care: a retrospective cohort study.NPJ Prim Care Respir Med. 2016;26:15081. doi:10.1038/npjpcrm.2015.81Additional ReadingDąbrowska M, Grabczak EM, Arcimowicz M, et al.Causes of chronic cough in non-smoking patients.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2015;873:25-33. doi:10.1007/5584_2015_153Damaraju D, Steiner T, Wade J, Gin K, Fitzgerald JM.Clinical problem-solving. A surprising cause of chronic cough.N Engl J Med. 2015;373(6):561-6. doi:10.1056/NEJMcps1303787Kasper DL, Fauci AS, Hauser SL. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. New York: Mc Graw Hill Education. Print.

13 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gibson P, Wang G, Mcgarvey L, et al.Treatment of unexplained chronic cough: CHEST guideline and expert panel report.Chest. 2016;149(1):27-44. doi:10.1378/chest.15-1496Harvard University Medical School, Harvard Health Publishing.That nagging cough.Irwin RS, French CL, Chang AB, Altman KW.Classification of cough as a symptom in adults and management algorithms: CHEST guideline and expert panel report.Chest. 2018;153(1):196-209. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2017.10.016Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Women’s Health Watch.By the way, doctor: what causes acid reflux in the throat?American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Asthma cough.Yıldız T, Dülger S.Non-astmatic eosinophilic bronchitis.Turk Thorac J. 2018;19(1):41–5. doi:10.5152/TurkThoracJ.2017.17017Michaudet C, Malaty J.Chronic cough: Evaluation and management.Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(9):575-580.Field SK, Escalante P, Fisher DA, Ireland B, Irwin RS.Cough due to TB and other chronic infections: CHEST guideline and expert panel report.Chest. 2018;153(2):467-497. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2017.11.018Ng LP, Goh PS.Incidence of discontinuation of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors due to cough, in a primary healthcare centre in Singapore. Singapore Med J. 2014;55(3):146-9. doi:10.11622/smedj.2014034French CT, Irwin RS.Cough.Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2016;194(8):P15-P16. doi:10.1164/rccm.1948P15Irwin RS, Baumann MH, Bolser DC, Boulet LP, Braman SS, Brightling CE, Brown KK, Canning BJ, Chang AB, Dicpinigaitis PV, Eccles R, Glomb WB, Goldstein LB, Graham LM, Hargreave FE, Kvale PA, Lewis SZ, McCool FD, McCrory DC, Prakash UBS, Pratter MR, Rosen MJ, Schulman E, Shannon JJ, Hammond CS, Tarlo SM.Diagnosis and management of cough executive summary: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.Chest.2006 Jan;129(1 Suppl):1S-23S. doi:10.1378/chest.129.1_suppl.1SAmerican Heart Association.Warning signs of heart failure.Turner RD, Bothamley GH.Chronic cough and a normal chest X-ray - a simple systematic approach to exclude common causes before referral to secondary care: a retrospective cohort study.NPJ Prim Care Respir Med. 2016;26:15081. doi:10.1038/npjpcrm.2015.81Additional ReadingDąbrowska M, Grabczak EM, Arcimowicz M, et al.Causes of chronic cough in non-smoking patients.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2015;873:25-33. doi:10.1007/5584_2015_153Damaraju D, Steiner T, Wade J, Gin K, Fitzgerald JM.Clinical problem-solving. A surprising cause of chronic cough.N Engl J Med. 2015;373(6):561-6. doi:10.1056/NEJMcps1303787Kasper DL, Fauci AS, Hauser SL. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. New York: Mc Graw Hill Education. Print.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Gibson P, Wang G, Mcgarvey L, et al.Treatment of unexplained chronic cough: CHEST guideline and expert panel report.Chest. 2016;149(1):27-44. doi:10.1378/chest.15-1496Harvard University Medical School, Harvard Health Publishing.That nagging cough.Irwin RS, French CL, Chang AB, Altman KW.Classification of cough as a symptom in adults and management algorithms: CHEST guideline and expert panel report.Chest. 2018;153(1):196-209. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2017.10.016Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Women’s Health Watch.By the way, doctor: what causes acid reflux in the throat?American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Asthma cough.Yıldız T, Dülger S.Non-astmatic eosinophilic bronchitis.Turk Thorac J. 2018;19(1):41–5. doi:10.5152/TurkThoracJ.2017.17017Michaudet C, Malaty J.Chronic cough: Evaluation and management.Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(9):575-580.Field SK, Escalante P, Fisher DA, Ireland B, Irwin RS.Cough due to TB and other chronic infections: CHEST guideline and expert panel report.Chest. 2018;153(2):467-497. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2017.11.018Ng LP, Goh PS.Incidence of discontinuation of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors due to cough, in a primary healthcare centre in Singapore. Singapore Med J. 2014;55(3):146-9. doi:10.11622/smedj.2014034French CT, Irwin RS.Cough.Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2016;194(8):P15-P16. doi:10.1164/rccm.1948P15Irwin RS, Baumann MH, Bolser DC, Boulet LP, Braman SS, Brightling CE, Brown KK, Canning BJ, Chang AB, Dicpinigaitis PV, Eccles R, Glomb WB, Goldstein LB, Graham LM, Hargreave FE, Kvale PA, Lewis SZ, McCool FD, McCrory DC, Prakash UBS, Pratter MR, Rosen MJ, Schulman E, Shannon JJ, Hammond CS, Tarlo SM.Diagnosis and management of cough executive summary: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.Chest.2006 Jan;129(1 Suppl):1S-23S. doi:10.1378/chest.129.1_suppl.1SAmerican Heart Association.Warning signs of heart failure.Turner RD, Bothamley GH.Chronic cough and a normal chest X-ray - a simple systematic approach to exclude common causes before referral to secondary care: a retrospective cohort study.NPJ Prim Care Respir Med. 2016;26:15081. doi:10.1038/npjpcrm.2015.81

Gibson P, Wang G, Mcgarvey L, et al.Treatment of unexplained chronic cough: CHEST guideline and expert panel report.Chest. 2016;149(1):27-44. doi:10.1378/chest.15-1496

Harvard University Medical School, Harvard Health Publishing.That nagging cough.

Irwin RS, French CL, Chang AB, Altman KW.Classification of cough as a symptom in adults and management algorithms: CHEST guideline and expert panel report.Chest. 2018;153(1):196-209. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2017.10.016

Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Women’s Health Watch.By the way, doctor: what causes acid reflux in the throat?

American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Asthma cough.

Yıldız T, Dülger S.Non-astmatic eosinophilic bronchitis.Turk Thorac J. 2018;19(1):41–5. doi:10.5152/TurkThoracJ.2017.17017

Michaudet C, Malaty J.Chronic cough: Evaluation and management.Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(9):575-580.

Field SK, Escalante P, Fisher DA, Ireland B, Irwin RS.Cough due to TB and other chronic infections: CHEST guideline and expert panel report.Chest. 2018;153(2):467-497. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2017.11.018

Ng LP, Goh PS.Incidence of discontinuation of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors due to cough, in a primary healthcare centre in Singapore. Singapore Med J. 2014;55(3):146-9. doi:10.11622/smedj.2014034

French CT, Irwin RS.Cough.Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2016;194(8):P15-P16. doi:10.1164/rccm.1948P15

Irwin RS, Baumann MH, Bolser DC, Boulet LP, Braman SS, Brightling CE, Brown KK, Canning BJ, Chang AB, Dicpinigaitis PV, Eccles R, Glomb WB, Goldstein LB, Graham LM, Hargreave FE, Kvale PA, Lewis SZ, McCool FD, McCrory DC, Prakash UBS, Pratter MR, Rosen MJ, Schulman E, Shannon JJ, Hammond CS, Tarlo SM.Diagnosis and management of cough executive summary: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.Chest.2006 Jan;129(1 Suppl):1S-23S. doi:10.1378/chest.129.1_suppl.1S

American Heart Association.Warning signs of heart failure.

Turner RD, Bothamley GH.Chronic cough and a normal chest X-ray - a simple systematic approach to exclude common causes before referral to secondary care: a retrospective cohort study.NPJ Prim Care Respir Med. 2016;26:15081. doi:10.1038/npjpcrm.2015.81

Dąbrowska M, Grabczak EM, Arcimowicz M, et al.Causes of chronic cough in non-smoking patients.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2015;873:25-33. doi:10.1007/5584_2015_153Damaraju D, Steiner T, Wade J, Gin K, Fitzgerald JM.Clinical problem-solving. A surprising cause of chronic cough.N Engl J Med. 2015;373(6):561-6. doi:10.1056/NEJMcps1303787Kasper DL, Fauci AS, Hauser SL. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. New York: Mc Graw Hill Education. Print.

Dąbrowska M, Grabczak EM, Arcimowicz M, et al.Causes of chronic cough in non-smoking patients.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2015;873:25-33. doi:10.1007/5584_2015_153

Damaraju D, Steiner T, Wade J, Gin K, Fitzgerald JM.Clinical problem-solving. A surprising cause of chronic cough.N Engl J Med. 2015;373(6):561-6. doi:10.1056/NEJMcps1303787

Kasper DL, Fauci AS, Hauser SL. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. New York: Mc Graw Hill Education. Print.

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?