Grunting

System: Chest & Breathing Signs · All chest & breathing signs

What it is — and how it is elicited

A short, soft sound made on breathing out by a sick infant, produced by exhaling against a partly closed glottis.

What a positive finding suggests

Associated with significant lung disease in newborns and infants, such as respiratory distress syndrome or pneumonia.

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Please note: This page is an educational reference about clinical examination signs. A clinical sign supports — and never replaces — a full clinical evaluation, examination and appropriate testing. A sign being present does not by itself prove a diagnosis, and an absent sign does not rule one out. If you have symptoms that worry you, see a health professional.