Bronchoconstriction

What it means

Tightening of smooth muscle surrounding the bronchi and bronchioles with consequent wheezing and shortness of breath.

Occasionally in the medical literature, the word bronchospasm is interpreted to mean a more sudden narrowing than bronchoconstriction, but this usage is inconsistent and in everyday practice the terms are used as synonyms. We treat the terms as synonyms and recommend using HPO modifiers to denote acuteness or chronicity if needed.

Rare diseases that can present with this9

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: Bronchial constriction · Bronchospasm · Constriction of the bronchi