2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J02Acute pharyngitis

ICD-10-CM Codes›J00–J99›J00-J06›J02

ICD-10-CM J02
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

J02 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for acute pharyngitis, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as J02.0, J02.8, and J02.9.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
J02
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Acute pharyngitis
Short Description
Acute pharyngitis
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
J00-J06
Acute upper respiratory infections

Code Classification

ChapterJ00–J99Diseases of the respiratory system
SectionJ00-J06Acute upper respiratory infections
CategoryJ02Acute pharyngitis
This CodeJ02Acute pharyngitis

Specific Coding for Acute pharyngitisOverview

Non-specific codes like J02 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use J02.0 for Streptococcal pharyngitis

  • Use J02.8 for Acute pharyngitis due to other specified organisms

  • Use J02.9 for Acute pharyngitis, unspecified

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to J02: its own notes plus those printed at block J00-J06 and Chapter 10. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Includes

Further defines, or gives examples of, the content of the category.

  • acute sore throat

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

On J02 itself
  • acute laryngopharyngitis (J06.0)
  • peritonsillar abscess (J36)
  • pharyngeal abscess (J39.1)
  • retropharyngeal abscess (J39.0)
From Block J00-J06 Acute upper respiratory infections applies to 35 codes
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with acute lower respiratory infection (J44.0)

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

On J02 itself
  • chronic pharyngitis (J31.2)
From Chapter 10 (J00-J99) Diseases of the respiratory system applies to 366 codes
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
  • certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
  • complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
  • congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
  • endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
  • injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
  • neoplasms (C00-D49)
  • smoke inhalation (T59.81-)
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)

Use Additional Code

Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.

From Chapter 10 (J00-J99) Diseases of the respiratory system applies to 366 codes
  • code, where applicable, to identify:
  • exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)
  • exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81)
  • history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)
  • occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31)
  • tobacco dependence (F17.-)
  • tobacco use (Z72.0)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 10 (J00-J99) Diseases of the respiratory system applies to 366 codes
  • When a respiratory condition is described as occurring in more than one site and is not specifically indexed, it should be classified to the lower anatomic site (e.g. tracheobronchitis to bronchitis in J40).

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name J02, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 2

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming J02: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • J00 Acute nasopharyngitis [common cold]
    acute pharyngitis (J02.-)
  • J03 Acute tonsillitis
    acute sore throat (J02.-)

Code Also 1

These codes say J02 may also be needed to fully describe the condition. The note gives no sequencing direction.

  • D81.82 Activated Phosphoinositide 3-kinase Delta Syndrome [APDS]
    other acute respiratory tract infections (J00-J06; J20-J22) names J00-J06, which includes this code

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Acute Pharyngitis

    an acute and painful inflammatory process that affects the pharynx. it is usually caused by viruses and less often bacteria. signs and symptoms include discomfort on swallowing, low-grade fever, headache, and earache.

Patient EducationClinical

Sore Throat

Your throat is a tube that carries food to your esophagus and air to your windpipe and larynx (also called the voice box). The technical name for the throat is pharynx.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About J02Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for acute pharyngitis?

J02 is the ICD-10-CM category for acute pharyngitis, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is J02 (Acute pharyngitis) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for acute pharyngitis, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for acute pharyngitis need a more specific code from this category, such as J02.0, J02.8, and J02.9.

Can J02 be reported with J06.0?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on J02 lists "acute laryngopharyngitis (J06.0)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).