This paper sums up the etiological diagnosis of cryptogenic intractable cough and illustrates seven critical etiological diagnoses of intractable cough

including postnasal drip syndrome

cough variant asthma

gastroesophageal reflux

liver cancer

angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors（ACEI）drug-induced

ventricular premature beats（cardiogenic）and hysteria.Definite etiological diagnosis can get most patients treated with etiological treatment and recovered.Differential diagnosis shall be emphasized in clinical diagnosis and treatment to improve accuracy in clinical diagnosis.