Unspecified chronic bronchitis (J42)
ICD-10 code J42 is used to identify cases of unspecified chronic bronchitis, a long-term inflammation of the airways without a more specific diagnosis. This code applies when the exact type or cause of chronic bronchitis is not detailed in medical records.
Unspecified chronic bronchitis includes a range of conditions often referred to by synonyms such as chronic tracheobronchitis, chronic bronchiolitis, or simply chronic bronchitis. It may also cover related descriptions like eosinophilic bronchitis or protracted bronchitis caused by bacteria. For medical coders and healthcare professionals, the ICD-10 code for unspecified chronic bronchitis helps capture cases where the patient exhibits persistent inflammation and symptoms like wheezing or coughing, but without further specification. This coding ensures accurate classification for patients diagnosed with chronic bronchial conditions, including more obscure terms such as bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after lung transplantation.
Using J42 appropriately supports clear documentation and communication across clinical and billing processes when the chronic bronchitis cannot be clearly categorized under other codes.
Instructional Notations
Inclusion Terms
These terms are the conditions for which that code is to be used. The terms may be synonyms of the code title, or, in the case of "other specified" codes, the terms are a list of the various conditions assigned to that code. The inclusion terms are not necessarily exhaustive. Additional terms found only in the Alphabetic Index may also be assigned to a code.
- Chronic bronchitis NOS
- Chronic tracheitis
- Chronic tracheobronchitis
Use Additional Code
The “use additional code” indicates that a secondary code could be used to further specify the patient’s condition. This note is not mandatory and is only used if enough information is available to assign an additional code.
- code 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
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.
- bronchiolitis obliterans and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome J44.81
- chronic asthmatic bronchitis J44
- chronic bronchitis with airways obstruction J44
- chronic emphysematous bronchitis J44
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease NOS J44.9
- simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis J41
Clinical Terms
The following clinical terms provide additional context, helping users better understand the clinical background and common associations for each diagnosis listed in this section. Including related terms alongside ICD-10-CM codes supports coders, billers, and healthcare professionals in improving accuracy, enhancing documentation, and facilitating research or patient education.
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.
