Tb patient on auscultation breath sounds and added sounds
| Finding | Location/Context |
|---|---|
| Bronchial (tubular) breath sounds | Over areas of lung consolidation — where alveoli are filled with caseous/exudative material, sound is transmitted more directly from large airways |
| Amphoric (hollow/cavernous) breath sounds | Over cavities — a distant, hollow, echoing quality resembling blowing over a bottle neck; characteristic of large TB cavities |
| Diminished/absent breath sounds | Over areas of extensive consolidation, collapse, or pleural effusion |
| Sound | Mechanism | When Heard |
|---|---|---|
| Post-tussive rales (crackles) | The most classic TB sign — fine to medium crackles heard over infiltrated areas after a short cough; the cough clears secretions momentarily, then rales reappear | Over apical/posterior segments (upper lobes and apical lower lobe — sites of reactivation TB) |
| Fine crackles (rales) | Opening of collapsed small airways in consolidated/fibrosed regions | Areas of active infiltration |
| Coarse crackles | Secretions in larger airways | Cavitating or endobronchial disease |
| Pleural friction rub | Pleurisy from parenchymal inflammation adjacent to pleural surface | Localized; accompanies pleuritic chest pain |
| Wheeze (rare) | Endobronchial TB causing partial obstruction, or tracheobronchial TB | More common in children with large hilar lymph nodes compressing bronchi |
Any added sound
| Type | Location | Cause |
|---|---|---|
| Fine crackles | Apical zones | Alveolar infiltration, fibrosis |
| Medium/coarse crackles | Any infiltrated area | Secretions in medium airways, cavitation |