J04.0

Acute laryngitis

FY2027Chapter 10: Diseases of the respiratory system/J00–J06 Acute upper respiratory infections

BillableComplete code, valid to report

J04.0 (also written J040) is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for acute laryngitis. It is part of the FY2027 code set, effective October 1, 2026. It is one of the 6 codes in category J04 (Acute laryngitis and tracheitis). The Alphabetic Index lists it under 7 entries. Its coding notes include a Use additional code instruction, a Code also instruction, 3 Excludes1 entries and 11 Excludes2 entries.

Use additional code

Add the listed code as a secondary code, if known.

Inherited from J04 Acute laryngitis and tracheitis
  • code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent.
Also from chapter/block level (7 notes)
Inherited from Chapter 10 Diseases of the respiratory system
  • 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)

Code also

Two codes may be needed to describe the condition. This note gives no sequencing order.

Inherited from J04 Acute laryngitis and tracheitis
  • influenza, if present, such as:
    • influenza due to identified novel influenza A virus with other respiratory manifestations (J09.X2)
    • influenza due to other identified influenza virus with other respiratory manifestations (J10.1)
    • influenza due to unidentified influenza virus with other respiratory manifestations (J11.1)

Excludes1

Not coded here. The listed conditions generally should not be reported together.

This code
  • acute obstructive laryngitis (J05.0)
Inherited from J04 Acute laryngitis and tracheitis
  • acute obstructive laryngitis [croup] and epiglottitis (J05.-)
Also from chapter/block level (1 note)
Inherited from J00–J06 Acute upper respiratory infections
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with acute lower respiratory infection (J44.0)

Excludes2

Not included here. Both codes may be reported if the patient has both conditions.

This code
  • chronic laryngitis (J37.0)
Inherited from J04 Acute laryngitis and tracheitis
  • laryngismus (stridulus) (J38.5)
Also from chapter/block level (9 notes)
Inherited from Chapter 10 Diseases of the respiratory system
  • 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)

Care settings

How CMS programs treat this code. These are CMS claim edits and list entries, not coverage or eligibility rules.

Home Health Primary

Accepted as the primary (principal) diagnosis on a home health claim. The Home Health Grouper assigns it to the MMTA - Other clinical group.

Source: CMS Home Health Grouper Software v07.2.26, effective October 1, 2026

Inclusion terms

Conditions classified to this code.

This code
  • Edematous laryngitis (acute)
  • Laryngitis (acute) NOS
  • Subglottic laryngitis (acute)
  • Suppurative laryngitis (acute)
  • Ulcerative laryngitis (acute)

Notes

Also from chapter/block level (1 note)
Inherited from Chapter 10 Diseases of the respiratory system
  • 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).

Alphabetic Index terms

Terms the official Alphabetic Index lists for this code. 7 entries