Hello fefe-ga!
Crackles are one of the abnormal, or adventitious, breath sounds that
one can hear when listening to the lungs with a stethoscope. The sound
is described as, well, a “crackley” sound, similar to the sound that a
hair would make when rubbed between two fingers. Crackles are usually
formed when air travels through fluid (like in pneumonia or pulmonary
edema) or when small airways snap open (as in atelectasis--collapse of
the alveoli, tiny air sacs in the lungs). Bibasilar describes the
sounds as being located in both lungs (bi-) at the bases, or lowest
portion (basilar). These sounds are indicators of disease of various
types. Depending on the timing of the crackles (inspiration versus
expiration) one can start to hone in on the exact cause. Some of them
are listed below:
Early Inpiratory Crackles
--Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Late Inspiratory Crackles (restrictive lung disorders)
--atelectasis (collapse of alveoli or air sacs of lungs)
--pneumonia
--asbestos exposure
--pulmonary fibrosis
--congestive heart failure (CHF)
Inspiratory and Expiratory Crackles (retention of secretions)
--Cystic Fibrosis
--Chronic Bronchitis
--Decreased cough effectiveness
(From http://www.cardiopt.org/4590.pdf)
These conditions can be either reversible or irreversible, depending
on the exact cause. As with all symptoms of illness, any difficulty
breathing should be evaluated by your physician so he or she can
properly treat any underlying condition.
I hope this answers your question. If I can clarify any points please
let me know.
Boquinha-ga
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