Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound produced by air flowing through narrowed breathing tubes.
Rales are abnormal breath sounds heard through a stethoscope.
Rhonchi are abnormal breath sounds heard through a stethoscope that sound similar to snoring . Also see breathing sounds, abnormal . The clinical importance of wheezing is that it is an indicator of difficult breathing . In a child with a respiratory infection, wheezing may occur before shortness of breath is noticed. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood.