2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J02.8Acute pharyngitis due to other specified organisms

ICD-10-CM Codes›J00–J99›J00-J06›J02

ICD-10-CM J02.8
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

J02.8 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for acute pharyngitis due to other specified organisms. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 152 through 153. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Other specified upper respiratory infections.

This medical diagnosis code is frequently used in Family Practice, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics medical specialties to designate conditions such acute respiratory infections.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
J02.8
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Acute pharyngitis due to other specified organisms
Short Description
Acute pharyngitis due to other specified organisms
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
J02
Acute pharyngitis

Code Classification

ChapterJ00–J99Diseases of the respiratory system
SectionJ00-J06Acute upper respiratory infections
CategoryJ02Acute pharyngitis
This CodeJ02.8Acute pharyngitis due to other specified organisms

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Acute bacterial pharyngitis
  • Acute staphylococcal pharyngitis
  • Adenoviral pharyngitis
  • Adenoviral respiratory disease
  • Glandular fever pharyngitis
  • Meningococcal pharyngitis
  • Mycoplasmal pharyngitis
  • Parainfluenza virus pharyngitis
  • Respiratory syncytial virus pharyngitis
  • Staphylococcal pharyngitis
  • Viral pharyngitis

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Use Additional Code

Type 1 Excludes

  • acute pharyngitis due to coxsackie virus B08.5
  • acute pharyngitis due to gonococcus A54.5
  • acute pharyngitis due to herpes simplex virus B00.2
  • acute pharyngitis due to infectious mononucleosis B27
  • enteroviral vesicular pharyngitis B08.5

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Pharyngitis(acute) (catarrhal)(gangrenous) (infective) (malignant) (membranous) (phlegmonous) (pseudomembranous) (simple) (subacute) (suppurative) (ulcerative) (viral)
      • pneumococcal
    • Pharyngitis(acute) (catarrhal)(gangrenous) (infective) (malignant) (membranous) (phlegmonous) (pseudomembranous) (simple) (subacute) (suppurative) (ulcerative) (viral)
      • specified organism NEC
    • Pharyngitis(acute) (catarrhal)(gangrenous) (infective) (malignant) (membranous) (phlegmonous) (pseudomembranous) (simple) (subacute) (suppurative) (ulcerative) (viral)
      • staphylococcal
    • Pharyngitis(acute) (catarrhal)(gangrenous) (infective) (malignant) (membranous) (phlegmonous) (pseudomembranous) (simple) (subacute) (suppurative) (ulcerative) (viral)
      • viral NEC
    • Sore
      • throat (acute)
        • viral NEC

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR RSP006
Other specified upper respiratory infections
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

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.

Convert J02.8 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
462 Acute pharyngitis
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About J02.8Overview

Is J02.8 (Acute pharyngitis) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report acute pharyngitis due to other specified organisms on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does J02.8 group to?

When acute pharyngitis due to other specified organisms is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 152, 153, with relative weights from 0.7382 to 1.1822 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of J02.8?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, acute pharyngitis due to other specified organisms converts to ICD-9-CM 462 (acute pharyngitis). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.