Diagnosis of enigmatic chronic cough

Chronic cough is a clinical problem that can be linked to multiple disorders stemming from a variety of anatomical sites. Successful treatment depends on determination of the precise cause and initiation of specific therapy. Here we present the case history of a 33-year-old man with chronic cough due to multiple causes. Although the patient's most common complaints were treated, cough persisted. Long-term clinical follow-up led to a definitive diagnosis of a cranial nerve dysfunction syndrome, and cough resolved after successful specific treatment.