What auscultatory findings are commonly heard in acute bronchiolitis?

• A. Diffuse crackles and expiratory wheezes
• B. Stridor
• C. Wheeze only
• D. Clear lungs

Answer: (A)

In acute bronchiolitis, the small airways are inflamed and filled with mucus, causing obstruction that is most evident as airflow limitation during expiration and secretions in the peripheral lungs. This combination produces diffuse crackles from secretions in the tiny airways and expiratory wheeze from narrowed passages during expiration. Stridor would point to an upper airway problem like croup, not the lower airway process of bronchiolitis. Clear lungs are unlikely because the infection typically creates abnormal sounds. Wheeze alone can occur, but crackles are also common, and the presence of both crackles and expiratory wheeze best fits the typical auscultatory pattern in acute bronchiolitis.