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Abnormal breathing sounds
Also known as Rales, Rattled breathing, Rhonchi, and Stridor
Crackles, crepitations, or rales (i/ˈrɑːls/ RAHLS or /ˈræls/ RALS) are the clicking, rattling, or crackling noises that may be made by one or both lungs of a human with a respiratory disease during inhalation. They are often heard only with a stethoscope ("on auscultation"). Bilateral crackles refers to the presence of crackles in both lungs.
Source: WikipediaWhat causes it?
The most common causes of abnormal breathing sounds are obstructive sleep apnea (osa), tonsillar hypertrophy, and obesity. Other possible causes, such as tonsillitis, are more rare.
What symptoms are related?
Within all the people who go to their doctor with abnormal breathing sounds, 80% report having sleepiness, 69% report having apnea, and 53% report having fatigue.
- Sleepiness strong predictor 80
- Apnea strong predictor 69
- Fatigue 53
- Difficulty breathing 48
- Insomnia strong predictor 46
- Shortness of breath 30
- Difficulty in swallowing 21
- Abnormal involuntary movements 17
- Hurts to breath 14
- Swollen or red tonsils strong predictor 12
- Mouth dryness strong predictor 9
- Weight gain 7
What might my doctor prescribe?
Common Tests and Procedures
Patients with abnormal breathing sounds often receive other diagnostic procedures (interview; evaluation; consultation), other therapeutic procedures on eyelids; conjunctiva; cornea, excision, electroencephalogram (eeg), echocardiography, tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy, ophthalmologic and otologic diagnosis and treatment and diagnostic procedures on nose; mouth and pharynx .
Common Medications
The most commonly prescribed drugs for patients with abnormal breathing sounds include zaleplon (sonata), oxymetazoline nasal, carbidopa / levodopa, ropinirole, acetaminophen / pseudoephedrine, ciclesonide nasal, drospirenone-estradiol, iodinated glycerol (organidin), aminolevulinic acid topical, adefovir, bilberry extract, cinnamon preparation and methylsulfonylmethane .
Who is at risk?
Groups of people at highest risk for abnormal breathing sounds include age 45-59 years.
Age
| < 1 years | 0.9x | |
| 1-4 years | 0.9x | |
| 5-14 years | 0.9x | |
| 15-29 years | 0.3x | |
| 30-44 years | 1.1x | |
| 45-59 years | 1.7x | |
| 60-74 years | 1.2x | |
| 75+ years | 0.5x |
Sex
| Male | 1.3x | |
| Female | 0.8x |
Race/Ethnicity
| Black | 1.0x | |
| Hispanic | 0.7x | |
| White | 1.1x | |
| Other | 0.7x |
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