Which lung sound is considered a medical emergency?

Stridor is considered a medical emergency because it typically indicates significant upper airway obstruction or swelling. This sound is often a high-pitched, wheezing noise that occurs when there is turbulent airflow in the upper airway due to constriction or blockage. Conditions such as anaphylaxis, croup, or foreign body aspiration can lead to stridor, all of which require immediate medical attention to secure the airway and restore normal breathing.

In contrast, other lung sounds like rhonchi, wheezing, and crackles can be associated with various respiratory issues but do not usually signal an immediate threat to airway patency or safety. Rhonchi may indicate the presence of mucus in the airways, wheezing often relates to asthma or bronchospasm, and crackles are typically associated with fluid in the alveoli, such as in pneumonia or heart failure. While these conditions may require treatment, they do not usually present as acute emergencies in the same way stridor does.