2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J05Acute obstructive laryngitis [croup] and epiglottitis

ICD-10-CM Codes›J00–J99›J00-J06›J05

ICD-10-CM J05
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

J05 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for acute obstructive laryngitis [croup] and epiglottitis, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as J05.0, J05.10, and J05.11.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
J05
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Acute obstructive laryngitis [croup] and epiglottitis
Short Description
Acute obstructive laryngitis [croup] and epiglottitis
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
CategoryJ05Acute obstructive laryngitis [croup] and epiglottitis
This CodeJ05Acute obstructive laryngitis [croup] and epiglottitis

Specific Coding for Acute obstructive laryngitis [croup] and epiglottitisOverview

Non-specific codes like J05 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use J05.0 for Acute obstructive laryngitis [croup]

  • J05.1 for Acute epiglottitis

  • Use J05.10 for Acute epiglottitis without obstruction

  • Use J05.11 for Acute epiglottitis with obstruction

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to J05: 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.

Excludes1

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

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.

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.

On J05 itself
  • code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent.
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)

Code Also

A second code may be needed to fully describe the condition; the note gives no sequencing direction.

  • influenza, if present, such as:
  • influenza due to identified novel influenza A virus with other respiratory manifestations (J09.X2)
  • influenza due to other identified influenza virus with other respiratory manifestations (J10.1)
  • influenza due to unidentified influenza virus with other respiratory manifestations (J11.1)

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 J05, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming J05: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • J04 Acute laryngitis and tracheitis
    acute obstructive laryngitis [croup] and epiglottitis (J05.-)

Code Also 1

These codes say J05 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

Patient EducationClinical

Croup

Croup is an inflammation of the vocal cords (larynx) and windpipe (trachea). It causes difficulty breathing, a barking cough, and a hoarse voice. The cause is usually a virus, often parainfluenza virus. Other causes include allergies and reflux.

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 J05Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for acute obstructive laryngitis [croup] and epiglottitis?

J05 is the ICD-10-CM category for acute obstructive laryngitis [croup] and epiglottitis, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is J05 (Acute obstructive laryngitis [croup] and epiglottitis) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for acute obstructive laryngitis [croup] and epiglottitis, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for acute obstructive laryngitis [croup] and epiglottitis need a more specific code from this category, such as J05.0, J05.10, and J05.11.

Can J05 be reported with J44.0?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at block J00-J06, which applies to J05, lists "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with acute lower respiratory infection (J44.0)". 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).

Does J05 need an additional code?

When the condition applies, yes. The Use Additional Code note reads: code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent.. The additional code is reported after J05.