What causes bibasilar rales in the lungs?

Bibasilar rales, or bibasilar crackles, in the lungs are caused by asthma, atelactasis, bronchiectasis, chronic bronchitis, congestive heart failure, lung abscess, pneumonia, pulmonary edema and severe sepsis, as stated by Right Diagnosis. Bibasilar rales are an indication that a patient is suffering from having lungs that are inflamed, infected or filled with fluid, and the most common symptom is the presence of abnormal breath sounds that can be heard from the base of the lungs.

Bibasilar crackles may sound wet or dry. The different sounds can help diagnose the cause of the problem with most experts claiming that dry crackles sound like opening Velcro.