What should you know about rhonchi pneumonia?

Rhonchi are heard with a stethoscope when airflow passes through mucus or secretions in the larger breathing tubes. They may change or briefly clear after coughing. Pneumonia is an infection in lung tissue and can present with cough, fever, chills, phlegm, chest discomfort or breathlessness, but breath sounds alone do not diagnose it. Viral illnesses, airway inflammation and other causes can also produce noisy breathing. A clinician considers symptoms, breathing rate, oxygen level, examination findings and sometimes a chest image or other tests.

Arrange a prompt assessment if pneumonia is suspected, particularly when fever, worsening cough, breathlessness or weakness is present. Drink fluids if you can do so safely, rest, avoid smoking and follow the treatment plan provided. Antibiotics help some bacterial infections but do not treat every cause of pneumonia; take them only as prescribed and complete the course unless your prescriber changes it. Keep a note of temperature changes, phlegm, chest pain and how easily you manage normal activity. Avoid sharing cups and wash hands while you have a respiratory infection.

Seek emergency help for severe difficulty breathing, blue or grey lips, confusion, collapse, inability to stay awake, or persistent chest pain. Urgent review is also needed if breathing becomes harder, you cannot keep fluids down, or you deteriorate quickly after an infection. A serious infection can sometimes spread beyond the lungs and cause sepsis, so rapidly worsening illness should not wait for a routine appointment.

Ask what is causing the rhonchi, whether you need a chest image or oxygen check, which treatments are appropriate, and what changes should trigger reassessment. Tell the clinician about recent viral illness, travel, smoking, chronic lung disease and current medicines.