Cough is the most common symptom for which patients seek medical attention. Estimates of the prevalence of cough vary, but as much as 12% of the general population report chronic coughing, defined as a cough lasting for more than 8 weeks. Chronic cough is more common among women than among men, most commonly occurs in the fifth and sixth decades of life, and can persist for years, with substantial physical, social, and psychological effects.

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Chronic cough is a feature of many common respiratory diseases (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and bronchiectasis) and of some common no respiratory conditions (e.g., gastroesophageal reflux and rhinosinusitis), and it may be the presenting symptom of patients with some rarer conditions (e.g., idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and eosinophilic bronchitis). Cough is also listed as a side effect of many drug treatments.