Ronchi - Causes and Symptoms

Definition

The ronchi are continuous, dry and low-pitched breathing sounds, which can be heard during inhalation or exhalation. They are a sign of bronchial obstruction and occur due to the passage of air in restricted airways due to the presence of mucus or bronchospasm. In other words, the respiratory flow from laminar (silent) becomes turbulent (noisy).

Depending on the tone, which partly depends on the caliber of the bronchi involved, you may have snoring, whining, whistling and hissing hums.

The ronchi are found in various conditions, including chronic and acute bronchitis, tracheobronchitis, asthma, melioidosis and bronchiectasis.

The bronchi tend already physiologically to reduce in size during expiration, therefore the pathological dry noises, at auscultation of the chest, are more intense during the expiratory phase.