虽然偶尔咳嗽是正常的，但持续的咳嗽可能是出现健康问题的征兆。
如果咳嗽持续少于三周，则被视为“急性”。如果持续时间超过八周（儿童为四周），则视为“慢性”。
引起咳嗽的一些原因包括：
常见原因：急性
- 普通感冒
- 流行性感冒（流感）
- 吸入刺激物（如烟、尘、化学物或异物）
- 感染性肺炎 — 发生在一侧或双侧肺部的感染。
- 百日咳
常见原因：慢性
- 过敏
- 哮喘 （最常见于儿童）
- 支气管炎
- 胃食管反流病（GERD）
- 鼻后滴漏
其他
- 急性鼻窦炎
- 支气管扩张（一种支气管异常增宽而抑制黏液清除的慢性肺病）
- 细支气管炎 （在幼儿中尤其如此）
- 呛噎：急救 （尤其在儿童中）
- 慢性鼻窦炎
- 慢性阻塞性肺疾病 （慢性阻塞性肺疾病）— 这是一组阻塞肺部气流的疾病的总称，包括肺气肿。
- 2019 冠状病毒病（COVID-19）
- 哮吼 （在幼儿中尤其如此）
- 囊性纤维化
- 肺气肿
- 心力衰竭
- 喉炎
- 肺癌
- 叫做血管紧张素转换酶 (ACE) 抑制剂的药物
- 削弱上气道和吞咽肌肉协调性的神经肌肉疾病
- 肺栓塞 — 肺内动脉有血凝块。
- 呼吸道合胞病毒（RSV） 在幼儿中尤其如此
- 结节病
- 结核病
下面列出了与该症状有关的常见病因。请与您的医生或其他医疗中心的专家配合，寻求更准确的诊断结果。
- Cough. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/cough. Accessed May 8, 2019.
- Kasi AS, et al. Cough. Pediatrics in Review. 2019;40:157.
- Cough in adults. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/pulmonary-disorders/symptoms-of-pulmonary-disorders/cough-in-adults?query=cough. Accessed May 8, 2019.
- Cough in children. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/pediatrics/symptoms-in-infants-and-children/cough-in-children?query=cough. Accessed May 8, 2019.
- When to give kids medicine for coughs and colds. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/when-give-kids-medicine-coughs-and-colds. Accessed May 8, 2019.
- Kellerman RD, et al. Cough. In: Conn's Current Therapy 2019. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2019. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 8, 2019.
- Broaddus VC, et al., eds. Cough. In: Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2016. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 8, 2019.
- AskMayoExpert. Chronic cough. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2017.
- Use caution when giving cough and cold products to kids. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/special-features/use-caution-when-giving-cough-and-cold-products-kids. Accessed May 8, 2019.
- Thompson DA. Cough. In: Adult Telephone Protocols: Office Version. 4th ed. Itasca, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2018.
- Schmitt BD. Cough. In: Pediatric Telephone Protocols: Office Version. 16th ed. Itasca, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2018.
- Pappas DE. The common cold in children: Management and prevention. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed May 20, 2019.
- Green JL, et al. Safety profile of cough and cold medication use in pediatrics. Pediatrics. 2017;139:1.
- Botulism: Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/botulism/prevention.html. Accessed June 4, 2019.
- Olson EJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 5, 2019.
- Laryngitis. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/ear,-nose,-and-throat-disorders/laryngeal-disorders/laryngitis. Accessed June 10, 2019.
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html. Accessed June 11, 2020.