Rales. Small clicking, bubbling, or rattling sounds in the lungs. They are heard when a person breathes in (inhales). They are believed to occur when air opens closed air spaces.

What do rales indicate?

While rales and rhonchi may sound different, they both signal a problem with how air is moving through your lungs. This can cause a variety of symptoms that will be more specific to what is causing the sound rather than the type of sound itself.

What causes rales and Rhonchi?

These breath sounds are associated with conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchiectasis, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, or cystic fibrosis.