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Fine crackles
- Discontinuous, high pitched, short crackling, popping sounds. Heard during inspiration, not cleared by coughing.
- Examples: Late inspiratory crackles- restrictive diseases like pneumonia, heart failure, interstitial fibrosis.
- Early Inspiratry crackles- obstructive diseases like chronic bronchitis, asthma, emphysema. Posturally induced crackles after acute MI.
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Coarse Crackles
Loud, low pitched, bubbling/gurgling sounds that start in early inspiration. May be present in expiration. May decrease with suctioning/ coughing. Examples: pulmonary edema, pneumonia pulmonary fibrosis, terminally ill depressed cough reflex.
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Aelectatic crackles
Like fine crackles but don't last and are not pathologic. Disappear after first few breaths. Examples: aging adults, bedridden, just aroused from sleep.
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Pleural friction rub
Superficial, coarse, and low pitched. Like rubbing two pieces of leather. Sound just like crackles but closer to ear. In inspiratory and expiratory. Examples: pleuritis, accompanies by pain with breathing.
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High pitch wheeze
Musical squeaking sounds that are polyphonic. Mostly expiratory, but can be both. Examples: diffused airway obstruction from asthma or chronic emphysema.
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Low pitch wheeze
Monophonic single note, musical snoring/moaning sounds. Heard throughout but louder on expiration. May clear by coughing. Examples: bronchitis, single airway obstruction from airway tumor.
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Stridor
High pitched monophonic, inspiratory crowning sound. Louder in the neck. Examples: croup, acute epiglottitis in children, foreign inhalation, may be life threatening.
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