Crackles

What it means

Crackles are discontinuous, explosive, and nonmusical adventitious lung sounds normally heard in inspiration and sometimes during expiration. Crackles are usually classified as fine and coarse crackles based on their duration, loudness, pitch, timing in the respiratory cycle, and relationship to coughing and changing body position.

Rales are fine, discontinuous crackles that can sound like cellophane being crumpled or velcro being pulled apart. They may be heard with a stethoscope when listening over lungs containing more than the normal amount of fluid secretiions.

Rare diseases that can present with this19

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: Crepitations · Rales