2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J06Acute upper respiratory infections of multiple and unspecified sites

ICD-10-CM Codes›J00–J99›J00-J06›J06

ICD-10-CM J06
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

J06 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for acute upper respiratory infections of multiple and unspecified sites, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as J06.0 and J06.9.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
J06
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Acute upper respiratory infections of multiple and unspecified sites
Short Description
Acute upper resp infections of multiple and unsp sites
Chapter
J00-J06
Acute upper respiratory infections

Code Classification

ChapterJ00–J99Diseases of the respiratory system
SectionJ00-J06Acute upper respiratory infections
CategoryJ06Acute upper respiratory infections of multiple and unspecified sites
This CodeJ06Acute upper respiratory infections of multiple and unspecified sites

Specific Coding for Acute upper resp infections of multiple and unsp sitesOverview

Non-specific codes like J06 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use J06.0 for Acute laryngopharyngitis

  • Use J06.9 for Acute upper respiratory infection, unspecified

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to J06: 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.

On J06 itself
  • acute respiratory infection NOS (J22)
  • influenza virus with other respiratory manifestations (J09.X2, J10.1, J11.1)
  • streptococcal pharyngitis (J02.0)
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.

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 J06, its category, or a range that includes it.

Code Also 1

These codes say J06 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

Common Cold

The common cold is a mild infection of your upper respiratory tract (which includes your nose and throat). Colds are probably the most common illness. Adults have an average of 2-3 colds per year, and children have even more. Colds are more common in the winter and spring, but you can get them at any time.

The full article covers:

  • What is the common cold?
  • What causes the common cold?
  • What are the symptoms of the common cold?
  • What are the treatments for the common cold?
  • Can the common cold be prevented?

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 J06Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for acute upper respiratory infections of multiple and unspecified sites?

J06 is the ICD-10-CM category for acute upper respiratory infections of multiple and unspecified sites, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is J06 a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for acute upper respiratory infections of multiple and unspecified sites, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for acute upper respiratory infections of multiple and unspecified sites need a more specific code from this category, such as J06.0 and J06.9.

Can J06 be reported with J22?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on J06 lists "acute respiratory infection NOS (J22)". 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).