Upper Respiratory Infection ICD-10-CM codes

J06.9 (acute upper respiratory infection, unspecified) is the code for a URI with no site specified. J00 is acute nasopharyngitis, the common cold. J06.0 is acute laryngopharyngitis, J04.0 acute laryngitis, J04.10 acute tracheitis, J04.2 acute laryngotracheitis, and J05.0 croup (acute obstructive laryngitis).

When the provider names a specific site, code that site instead of J06.9: acute pharyngitis is J02.9 (J02.0 for strep), acute tonsillitis is J03.90, and acute sinusitis is J01.90. J06 has an Excludes1 note for streptococcal pharyngitis and for influenza with respiratory manifestations, so a URI documented as influenza is J11.1 (or J10.1 with an identified virus) and not J06.9.

COVID-19 is U07.1 and is sequenced first when confirmed, with any respiratory manifestation coded after it. Symptoms integral to a URI such as cough, fever, and nasal congestion are not coded separately once the infection is diagnosed. For an infectious agent identified with a URI, add a B95 to B97 code.