What do lung crackles sound like

Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Mental Health. Breath Sounds. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. Abnormal breath sounds can indicate a lung problem, such as: obstruction inflammation infection fluid in the lungs asthma Listening to breath sounds is an important part of diagnosing many different medical conditions. Types of breath sounds. What are the causes of abnormal breath sounds?

When are breath sounds a medical emergency? Finding out the cause. Treatment options for abnormal breath sounds. The takeaway. Read this next. High-Pitched Breath Sounds. Medically reviewed by Carissa Stephens, R. Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. Diaphragmatic Hernia.

Bronchopneumonia: Symptoms, Risk Factors, and Treatment. Medically reviewed by Gerhard Whitworth, R. Empyema An empyema is a condition in which pus collects in the pleural space, which is the area between your lungs and the inner surface of your chest wall.

This CME Conference has been approved for a maximum of Richard Friedel How to tackle asthma with acupressure. Press on the skin between the nose and upper lip in step with breathing and note relaxation of lung airways..

See video by Dr. See doc. It is going to be a great help for competitive exam preparation. Joan Enering, R. Thank you. It helps to remember what each condition may sound like on auscultation. Deneene Shipanga Excellent article! Thank you!

You offer a great service to us. Richard Friedel. Two issues often cause bibasilar crackles. One is the accumulation of mucus or fluid in the lungs. Another is a failure of parts of the lungs to inflate properly. The crackles sound like brief popping when a person breathes. Some people describe the sound as similar to wood burning in a fireplace. For example, fine crackles are often soft and high-pitched. Coarse crackles are usually louder and low-pitched, with a wet or bubbling sound. Bibasilar crackles may occur with additional symptoms, depending on the underlying cause.

Possible accompanying symptoms include:. Many conditions can cause bibasilar crackles, and they are usually based in the heart or lungs.

Below are some potential causes of bibasilar crackles. Pneumonia is an infection in the lungs, which can result from a virus, bacteria, or fungus. The infection can cause shortness of breath, fatigue, and coughing, as well as bibasilar crackles. In some cases, pneumonia can be life-threatening. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , pneumonia is the leading infectious cause of death in children under age 5 worldwide. Heart failure occurs when the heart is too weak to pump blood efficiently to the rest of the body.

If the heart is not working correctly, the blood does not exit the lungs as quickly as it should. This can cause fluid to build up, and it can pool in the lungs.

Heart failure can affect both children and adults. Heart failure affects approximately 5. Beyond bibasilar crackles, symptoms may include swelling in the abdomen, coughing, and shortness of breath.

Bronchitis involves inflammation of the bronchi, which are the tubes leading to the lungs. Bronchitis can be acute or chronic. Acute bronchitis often results from a virus, and it typically lasts for 3—10 days.

Pulmonary edema involves a buildup of fluid in the alveoli, which are small air sacs in the lungs. Pulmonary edema can result from altitude sickness, which occurs when a person unaccustomed to altitudes ascends to 2, meters or higher.

In addition to bibasilar crackles, symptoms of pulmonary edema include coughing, trouble breathing, blue-tinged lips, and spitting up pink, frothy mucus.