2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J06.9Acute upper respiratory infection, unspecified

ICD-10-CM Codes›J00–J99›J00-J06›J06

ICD-10-CM J06.9
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

J06.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for acute upper respiratory infection, unspecified. 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 and Internal Medicine medical specialties to designate conditions such acute respiratory infections.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
J06.9
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Acute upper respiratory infection, unspecified
Short Description
Acute upper respiratory infection, unspecified
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
J06
Acute upper respiratory infections of multiple and unspecified sites

Code Classification

ChapterJ00–J99Diseases of the respiratory system
SectionJ00-J06Acute upper respiratory infections
CategoryJ06Acute upper respiratory infections of multiple and unspecified sites
This CodeJ06.9Acute upper respiratory infection, unspecified

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Acute respiratory disease
  • Acute upper respiratory infection
  • Acute upper respiratory infection caused by respiratory syncytial virus
  • Bacterial upper respiratory infection
  • COVID-19
  • Cyst of nasal sinus
  • Infection of mucous cyst of nasal sinus
  • Infection of upper respiratory tract caused by fungus
  • Infection of upper respiratory tract caused by SARS-CoV-2
  • Mucopyocele
  • Nasal sinus mucocele
  • Recurrent upper respiratory tract infection
  • Upper respiratory infection
  • Viral respiratory infection
  • Viral upper respiratory tract infection

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Upper respiratory disease, acute
  • Upper respiratory infection NOS

Use Additional Code

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.

    • Disease, diseased
      • respiratory (tract)
        • acute or subacute NOS
    • Disease, diseased
      • respiratory (tract)
        • upper
          • acute or subacute
    • Disease, diseased
      • respiratory (tract)
        • upper
          • streptococcal
    • Infection, infected, infective(opportunistic)
      • respiratory (tract) NEC
        • upper (acute) NOS
    • Infection, infected, infective(opportunistic)
      • respiratory (tract) NEC
        • upper (acute) NOS
          • streptococcal
    • Infection, infected, infective(opportunistic)
      • respiratory (tract) NEC
        • upper (acute) NOS
          • viral NOS
    • Infection, infected, infective(opportunistic)
      • respiratory (tract) NEC
        • upper (acute) NOS
          • viral NOS
            • due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
    • Infection, infected, infective(opportunistic)
      • virus, viral NOS
        • respiratory syncytial (RSV)
          • upper respiratory infection
    • Inflammation, inflamed, inflammatory(with exudation)
      • respiratory, upper
    • Tracheopharyngitis(acute)
    • Virus, viral
      • respiratory syncytial (RSV)
        • upper respiratory infection

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

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.

Convert J06.9 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
465.8 Acute uri mult sites NEC
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
465.9 Acute uri NOS
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 J06.9Overview

Is J06.9 a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report acute upper respiratory infection, unspecified on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does J06.9 group to?

When acute upper respiratory infection, unspecified 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 J06.9?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, acute upper respiratory infection, unspecified converts to ICD-9-CM 465.8 (acute uri mult sites NEC) and 465.9 (acute uri NOS). 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.