Which condition can cause low pinched crackles in both lungs?

Low pinched crackles heard in both lungs are often associated with conditions that affect lung inflation and fluid levels. Pneumonia and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) can both lead to the presence of crackles due to the accumulation of fluid, mucus, or inflammation within the airways and alveoli.

In pneumonia, the lung tissue becomes inflamed and filled with fluid or pus, which can create a crackling sound as air moves through the compromised areas of the lung. Similarly, in COPD, particularly chronic bronchitis, mucus build-up and airway inflammation can lead to similar sounds during auscultation. The crackles are often described as fine and can be heard throughout the lung fields, indicating the bilateral nature of the condition.

Other conditions, while they may cause different respiratory sounds, do not typically match the presentation of low pinched crackles across both lungs. Asthma tends to cause wheezing rather than crackles due to bronchoconstriction. Pulmonary embolism might produce sounds due to associated conditions, but typically does not result in crackles throughout both lungs. Lung cancer can lead to various abnormal lung sounds but is often more localized, depending on the tumor's size and location.

Thus, pneumonia and COPD are