Coughing is caused by irritation of the nerves that line the throat or air passageways. Inflammation of the lining to the throat and air passageways can result in coughing.

Common causes of cough include:

• Acid reflux disease
• Allergic reaction
• Allergic rhinitis
• Asthma
• Bronchiolitis
• Bronchitis
• Choking
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Colds
• Croup
• Emphysema
• Influenza
• Inhaled foreign body
• Irritant inhalation
• Laryngitis
• Pharyngitis
• Pleurisy
• Pneumonia
• Posterior nasal drip
• Sinusitis
• Smoking
• Strep throat
• Tonsillitis
• Viral syndrome

Less common causes of cough include:

• Asbestosis
• Aspiration pneumonia
• Atelectasis
• Bacterial pneumonia
• Black lung
• Bronchiectasis
• Congestive heart failure
• Cystic fibrosis
• Enlarged tonsils
• Goodpasture syndrome
• Inhalation injury
• Legionnaire's disease
• Lung abscess
• Lung cancer
• Lupus
• Measles
• Medication side effect:
• ACE inhibitors
• Pulmonary contusion
• Pulmonary embolism
• Sarcoidosis
• Silicosis
• Smoke inhalation
• Toxic inhalations
• Tuberculosis
• Viral pneumonia
• Whooping cough