ADVENTITIOUS BREATH SOUNDS AND ITS CHARACTERISTIC

DISEASE
TYPES CONTINUITY TIMING PITCH QUALITY CAUSE
ASSOCIATED

Airway
Inspiratory,
narrowing, Asthma, COPD,
1. Wheeze Continuous Mostly High Musical
airflow Foreign body
Expiratory
limitation

Secretion in
Inspiratory,
2. Rhonchi bronchial, Bronchitis,
Continuous Mostly Low Musical
(Gurgles) mucosal COPD
Expiratory
thickening

Turbulent
airflow in
Mostly Epiglottitis,
larynx or
Inspiratory, foreign body,
3. Stridor Continuous High Musical lower
Expiratory, croup, laryngeal
bronchial tree
Both oedema
(Upper airway
obstruction)

Pneumonia,
Non- Explosive
4. Fine Inspiratory Congestive heart
Discontinuous High musical, opening of
Crackle (late) failure, Lung
Explosive small airways
fibrosis

Mostly Air bubble in

Chronic
Inspiratory Non- large bronchi
5. Coarse bronchitis,
Discontinuous (early), Low musical, or
Crackle bronchiectasis,
Expiratory, Explosive bronchiectasis
COPD
Both segments

Pleural
membrane Inflammation of
6. Pleural Non-
Discontinuous Both Low rubbing lung membrane,
Rub Musical
against each lung tumor
other