Acute bronchitis (J20) ICD-10-CM
The J20 code range covers acute bronchitis with 11 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. 10 of them are billable and valid for claim submission in fiscal year 2026, and the category headers group them but cannot themselves be billed.
Includes
This note appears immediately under a three character code title to further define, or give examples of, the content of the category.
- acute and subacute bronchitis (with) bronchospasm
- acute and subacute bronchitis (with) tracheitis
- acute and subacute bronchitis (with) tracheobronchitis, acute
- acute and subacute fibrinous bronchitis
- acute and subacute membranous bronchitis
- acute and subacute purulent bronchitis
- acute and subacute septic bronchitis
Type 1 Excludes
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
Type 2 Excludes
A type 2 excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.
- acute bronchitis with bronchiectasis J47.0
- acute bronchitis with chronic obstructive asthma J44.0
- acute bronchitis with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease J44.0
- allergic bronchitis NOS J45.909
- bronchitis due to chemicals, fumes and vapors J68.0
- chronic bronchitis NOS J42
- chronic mucopurulent bronchitis J41.1
- chronic obstructive bronchitis J44
- chronic obstructive tracheobronchitis J44
- chronic simple bronchitis J41.0
- chronic tracheobronchitis J42
Codes in the J20 Range 11 codes · 10 billable
- J20 Acute bronchitisNon-billable
- J20.0 Acute bronchitis due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- J20.1 Acute bronchitis due to Hemophilus influenzae
- J20.2 Acute bronchitis due to streptococcus
- J20.3 Acute bronchitis due to coxsackievirus
- J20.4 Acute bronchitis due to parainfluenza virus
- J20.5 Acute bronchitis due to respiratory syncytial virus
- J20.6 Acute bronchitis due to rhinovirus
- J20.7 Acute bronchitis due to echovirus
- J20.8 Acute bronchitis due to other specified organisms
- J20.9 Acute bronchitis, unspecified
Clinical Terms in This Code Range
Definitions from the National Library of Medicine for conditions coded in the J20 range.
Bronchitis
Inflammation of the large airways in the lung including any part of the BRONCHI, from the PRIMARY BRONCHI to the TERTIARY BRONCHI.
Bronchitis, Chronic
A subcategory of CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE. The disease is characterized by hypersecretion of mucus accompanied by a chronic (more than 3 months in 2 consecutive years) productive cough. Infectious agents are a major cause of chronic bronchitis.
Coronavirus
A member of CORONAVIRIDAE which causes respiratory or gastrointestinal disease in a variety of vertebrates.
Infectious bronchitis virus
A species of CORONAVIRUS causing infections in chickens and possibly pheasants. Chicks up to four weeks old are the most severely affected.
About the J20 Code Range
ICD-10 code J20 and its subcategories are used to classify cases of acute bronchitis, an inflammation of the bronchial tubes causing coughing and breathing issues. These codes help specify the exact cause of acute bronchitis, differentiating between bacterial and viral infections, or leaving the cause unspecified.
The ICD-10 code for acute bronchitis starts with J20. For bacterial causes, codes like J20.0 (due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae), J20.1 (Hemophilus influenzae), and J20.2 (streptococcus) are applied. Viral causes have distinct codes such as J20.3 for coxsackievirus, J20.4 for parainfluenza virus, and J20.5 for respiratory syncytial virus, among others like rhinovirus and echovirus. The J20.8 code covers acute bronchitis caused by other specified organisms, including COVID-19. When the cause is not identified, J20.9 is used. These detailed codes assist coders and healthcare professionals in accurately attributing specific infectious agents or noting when the origin is unknown, improving diagnosis clarity and treatment planning.
Questions About This Page
How many billable codes are in the J20 range?
Of the 11 codes in this range, 10 are billable and valid for claim submission from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. Category header codes group them but cannot be reported on claims.
What does the J20 range classify?
The range classifies acute bronchitis. Each code links to its own reference page with billing status, MS-DRG grouping, coding notes, and clinical information.
Related References
Source: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM Tabular List and order file, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
