Cough is a sudden and explosive forcing of air through glottis and often repetitively occurring reflex, which helps to clear the large breathing passages from secretions, irritants, foreign particles and microbes. It has been classified differently depending upon onset, duration, sputum production and periodicity. The most common causes of acute cough include common cold, acute sinusitis, tracheobronchitis, pertussis (whooping cough), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations, allergic rhinitis and non allergic rhinitis. Signs and symptoms that point to an infection include fever, chills, body ache, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, headache, sinus pressure, runny nose, night sweats and postnasal drip. Sputum or phlegm sometimes indicates that infection is present, but it is also seen in noninfectious causes. Besides associated signs and symptoms and history of foreign body inhalation, smoking, infections, postnasal drip, throat irritation, breathlessness, drug intake and gastric reflux need to be elicited. Preventive measures include smoking cessation, allergen avoidance, environmental protection, health and lifestyle modification, pollutants avoidance, weight reduction and pneumococcal vaccines in the elderly. Definitive treatment of cough depends on determining its precise cause and then initiating specific treatment for the underlying cause.