Crackles

Crackles are the clicking, rattling, or crackling noises that may be made by one or both lungs of a human with respiratory disease during inhalation. They are often heard with a stethoscope during a physical examination.

Causes

Crackles are caused by the "popping open" of small airways and alveoli collapsed by fluid, exudate, or lack of aeration during expiration. Some conditions that can cause crackles include pneumonia, heart failure, bronchitis, and tuberculosis.

Types

There are two types of crackles: fine and coarse.

• Fine crackles are soft, high-pitched, and very brief. This sound can be simulated by rolling a strand of hair between one's fingers near the ear. Their presence usually indicates an interstitial process, such as pulmonary fibrosis or congestive heart failure.

• Coarse crackles are louder, lower in pitch, and last longer than fine crackles. Their presence may indicate any of several diseases, including pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, or cystic fibrosis.

Diagnosis

Crackles are often detected during medical examinations through auscultation with a stethoscope. Further diagnostic tests may be required to determine the underlying cause of the crackles, such as a chest X-ray or a pulmonary function test.

Treatment

Treatment for crackles involves treating the underlying cause of the crackles. For example, if the crackles are caused by pneumonia, antibiotics may be prescribed. If the crackles are caused by heart failure, diuretics and other heart medications may be used.

See also

• Rales
• Wheezing
• Stridor

References

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