What is the difference between inspiratory and expiratory wheeze

Less musical sounding than a wheeze, stridor is a high-pitched, turbulent sound that can happen when a child inhales or exhales. Stridor usually indicates an obstruction or narrowing in the upper airway, outside of the chest cavity.

A number of conditions can block or narrow the upper airway and cause stridor. The most common is a viral infection called croup. Other causes include swallowing a small object that gets lodged in the airway, upper respiratory infection, inflammation, cysts or masses, vocal cord problems, scarring, and conditions such as laryngomalacia where soft tissues partially obstruct the airway and certain congenital heart conditions.

While stertor is less well-known than either wheezing or stridor, it's also a lot more common. Stertor can happen with a common cold. It can also indicate adenoid enlargement from allergies or flu. In rare cases, stertor may result from a structural abnormality in the back of the nasal cavity. Our pediatric otolaryngologists are committed to providing compassionate and comprehensive care for children with ear, nose, and throat conditions.

Related Topics in Symptoms. Pulmonology Chapters. Pulmonology - Symptoms Pages. Back Links pages that link to this page. Search other sites for 'Expiratory Wheezing'. A symptom and a finding during physical examination, characterized by a high-pitched, whistling sound during breathing.

A disorder characterized by a high-pitched, whistling sound during breathing. Sign or Symptom T If recurrent, patients are asked the previous diagnosis and whether current symptoms are different in nature or severity. Particularly when the diagnosis is unclear, the acuity of onset eg, abrupt or gradual , temporal patterns eg, persistent vs intermittent, seasonal variations , and provoking or exacerbating factors eg, current upper respiratory infection, allergen exposure, cold air, exercise, feeding in infants are noted.

Important associated symptoms include shortness of breath, fever, cough, and sputum production. Review of systems should seek symptoms and signs of causative disorders, including fever, sore throat, and rhinorrhea respiratory infection ; orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and peripheral edema heart failure Heart Failure HF Heart failure HF is a syndrome of ventricular dysfunction.

Prolonged reflux may lead to esophagitis, stricture, and rarely metaplasia Past medical history should ask about conditions known to cause wheezing, particularly asthma, COPD, and heart failure. Patients with known disease should be asked about indicators of disease severity, such as previous hospitalization, intubation, or intensive care unit admission.

Also, conditions that predispose to heart failure are identified, including atherosclerotic or congenital heart disease and hypertension. Smoking history and exposure to secondhand smoke should be noted. Vital signs are reviewed for presence of fever, tachycardia, tachypnea, and low oxygen saturation. Any signs of respiratory distress eg, accessory muscle use, intercostal retractions, pursed lip breathing, agitation, cyanosis, decreased level of consciousness should be immediately noted.

Examination focuses on the lungs, particularly adequacy of air entry and exit, symmetry of breath sounds, and localization of wheezing diffuse vs localized; inspiratory, expiratory, or both. Any signs of consolidation eg, egophony, dullness to percussion or crackles should be noted. The cardiac examination should focus on findings that might indicate heart failure, such as murmurs, a 3rd heart sound S3 gallop , and jugular venous distention.

The nose and throat examination should note appearance of the nasal mucosa eg, color, congestion , swelling of the face or tongue, and signs of rhinitis, sinusitis, or nasal polyps. The extremities are examined for clubbing and edema, and the skin is examined for signs of allergic reactions eg, urticaria, rash or atopy eg, eczema.

Recurrent wheezing in a patient with a known history of disorders such as asthma, COPD, or heart failure is usually presumed to represent an exacerbation.

In patients who have both lung and heart disease, manifestations may be similar eg, neck vein distention and peripheral edema in cor pulmonale due to COPD and in heart failure , and the exact etiology is often hard to determine.

When the cause is known asthma or COPD, a history of cough, postnasal drip, or exposure to allergens or to toxic or irritant gases eg, cold air, dust, tobacco smoke, perfumes may suggest a trigger. Clinical findings help suggest a cause of wheezing in patients without a known history see table Some Causes of Wheezing Some Causes of Wheezing Wheezing is a relatively high-pitched whistling noise produced by movement of air through narrowed or compressed small airways.

Acute sudden-onset wheezing in the absence of symptoms of an upper respiratory infection URI suggests an allergic reaction or impending anaphylaxis, especially if urticaria or angioedema is present. If inflammation is causing your wheezing, your doctor will prescribe anti-inflammatory medications like steroids to reduce swelling and open your airways for easier breathing.

If your wheezing is caused by an infection, you may be prescribed antibiotics to treat the condition and associated symptoms. Wheezing can occur when you inhale and exhale. Though asthma and inflammation are common causes of this symptom, wheezing can be a sign of a more serious condition. If your wheezing is accompanied with breathing difficulties, seek immediate medical attention. Discuss your concerns with your doctor to receive a proper diagnosis and the best treatment for your condition.

Heartburn is the most common symptom of acid reflux. Others are asthmatic in nature. Learn more about the relationship between acid reflux and asthma. Abnormal breath sounds can indicate a lung problem, such as an obstruction, inflammation, or infection.

Learn about breath sounds and what they may…. Allergies and asthma share some symptoms and often occur together. The same substances that cause allergies can trigger asthma symptoms. Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound made while you breathe.