A. Some common causes of chronic cough include asthma, allergic rhinitis, sinus problems (for example sinus infection), and esophageal reflux of stomach contents.On rare occasions, chronic cough may be the result of aspiration of foreign objects into the lungs (usually in children). Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of chronic cough. 2  Asthma is a disease of airways, resulting in difficulty breathing or wheezing often characterized by abnormal breathing tests. 3  Some asthma sufferers have chronic cough as their only symptom.