What sound is typically heard when there is an obstruction of the airways?

• A. Rale
• B. Stridor
• C. Wheezing
• D. Rhonchi

Answer: (B)

The sound that is typically heard when there is an obstruction of the airways is stridor. Stridor is a high-pitched, wheezing sound that indicates a narrowing of the upper airways, usually occurring during inhalation. It often signifies conditions such as croup, epiglottitis, or an allergic reaction that leads to swelling in the upper airway. This sound is produced when air is forced through a constricted passage, and it is a critical indicator of potentially serious respiratory issues requiring prompt intervention.

While other sounds, such as wheezing (which is associated with lower airway obstructions, such as in asthma) or rhonchi (which indicates the presence of mucus in the larger airways), also arise from airway issues, they differ in their implications and the parts of the respiratory tract they affect. Rales are typically associated with fluid in the alveoli and do not signify airway obstruction in the same way stridor does. Therefore, recognizing stridor is vital for assessing upper airway compromise.