What is the Difference Between Rales and Rhonchi?

Rales and rhonchi are two types of abnormal lung sounds that can be heard through a stethoscope, indicating potential problems in the airway. The main differences between them are in the pitch and the exact cause of the sound.

Rales:

• Rales are small clicking, bubbling, or rattling sounds in the lungs, typically heard when a person inhales.
• They are believed to occur when air opens closed air spaces in the lungs.
• Rales can be further described as moist, dry, fine, and coarse.
• Conditions that can cause rales include pneumonia, heart failure, pleural effusion, and over-inflation of a part of the lungs.

Rhonchi:

• Rhonchi are low-pitched sounds that usually start in the larger airways in the lungs and can be heard on both inhalation and exhalation.
• They are often compared to the sound of snoring and are caused by the fluttering of narrowed airways and the air that flows through them.
• Conditions that can cause rhonchi include pneumonia, bronchitis, respiratory infections that cause mucus buildup, and chronic lung diseases like COPD.

Both sounds can be caused by infections and fluid buildup in the lungs. A healthcare professional may investigate the cause further by conducting imaging studies such as chest X-rays, breathing tests like spirometry, and blood tests to check for infections or imbalances in the body.

Comparative Table: Rales vs Rhonchi

Rales and rhonchi are both abnormal breathing sounds heard during auscultation, but they have distinct differences. Here is a table comparing the two:

Both rales and rhonchi are indicative of problems with air movement in the lungs and can be associated with various respiratory conditions, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and COPD.