Most people are not concerned about a cough when it first begins, since it is so common to have a cough from a cold or viral bronchitis. At the start of your cough, you may also have had a dripping or congested nose, sore throat, fever, muscle aches, nausea, ear pain, or pink eye. Sometimes bronchitis or other upper respiratory infections result in a long-lasting cough.
When your cough began, did you have any other symptoms that suggest that you had a cold, bronchitis or a viral illness?