2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J20.5Acute bronchitis due to respiratory syncytial virus

ICD-10-CM Codes›J00–J99›J20-J22›J20

ICD-10-CM J20.5
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

J20.5 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for acute bronchitis due to respiratory syncytial virus. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 202 through 203. Coders also document this condition as acute lower respiratory infection caused by respiratory syncytial virus. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Acute bronchitis and Viral infection.

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
J20.5
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Acute bronchitis due to respiratory syncytial virus
Short Description
Acute bronchitis due to respiratory syncytial virus
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
J20
Acute bronchitis

Code Classification

ChapterJ00–J99Diseases of the respiratory system
SectionJ20-J22Other acute lower respiratory infections
CategoryJ20Acute bronchitis
This CodeJ20.5Acute bronchitis due to respiratory syncytial virus

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Acute lower respiratory infection caused by respiratory syncytial virus
  • Acute respiratory syncytial virus bronchitis
  • Acute viral bronchitis
  • Inflammation of larynx caused by virus
  • Laryngotracheobronchitis
  • Respiratory syncytial virus bronchitis
  • Respiratory syncytial virus laryngotracheobronchitis
  • Viral tracheitis

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Acute bronchitis due to RSV

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.

    • Bronchitis(diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous)
      • acute or subacute (with bronchospasm or obstruction)
        • due to
          • virus
            • respiratory syncytial (RSV)
    • Infection, infected, infective(opportunistic)
      • virus, viral NOS
        • respiratory syncytial (RSV)
          • bronchitis
    • Virus, viral
      • respiratory syncytial (RSV)
        • bronchitis

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR RSP005
Acute bronchitis
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes
CCSR INF008
Viral infection
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Viral Laryngitis

    acute inflammation of the larynx caused by viruses, including rhinovirus, influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, and adenovirus.

Patient EducationClinical

Acute Bronchitis

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the airways that carry air to your lungs. It causes a cough that often brings up mucus. It can also cause shortness of breath, wheezing, a low fever, and chest tightness. There are two main types of bronchitis: acute and chronic.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert J20.5 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
466.0 Acute bronchitis
ApproximateCombination The match is approximate, and more than one code can be needed to describe the source diagnosis. Confirm with contextual judgment.
ICD-9-CM
079.6 Resprtry syncytial virus
ApproximateCombination The match is approximate, and more than one code can be needed to describe the source diagnosis. Confirm with contextual judgment.

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 J20.5Overview

Is J20.5 (Acute bronchitis) a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does J20.5 group to?

When acute bronchitis due to respiratory syncytial virus is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 202, 203, with relative weights from 0.6700 to 0.9712 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of J20.5?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, acute bronchitis due to respiratory syncytial virus converts to ICD-9-CM 466.0 (acute bronchitis) and 079.6 (resprtry syncytial virus). 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.