Keuchende

Keuchende is a German term derived from the verb keuchen, meaning to wheeze. It can function as an adjective (keuchende Stimme, keuchende Atmung) or as a plural noun (die Keuchenden). As an adjective, it describes breath sounds or people whose breathing is marked by wheezing. As a noun, it can refer to individuals who wheeze, typically in contexts discussing respiratory conditions. In standard clinical language, the term is uncommon; more precise diagnoses such as asthma, COPD, or bronchitis are usually used.

Medical context: Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound produced during breathing, caused by narrowed or inflamed airways. It is commonly associated with asthma, chronic bronchitis, COPD, allergic reactions, or respiratory infections. Wheeze can be heard with or without a stethoscope and is often evaluated together with symptoms like shortness of breath, coughing, or chest tightness. The plural noun Keuchende would rarely appear in formal medical notes, where specific conditions or patient descriptions are preferred.

Cultural and usage notes: In literature and journalism, keuchende can be employed descriptively to convey frailty, distress, or a suffocating atmosphere, rather than to indicate a definite diagnosis. The term emphasizes the physical struggle of breathing and can contribute to mood or character portrayal.

See also: keuchen, wheeze, asthma, bronchitis, COPD.