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A36.2 ICD-10-CM Code: Laryngeal diphtheria

Compare with another code for A36.2Check this code on a claim

Billing Status: YES. This is a valid, specific, and billable ICD-10-CM reference.

Coding at a Glance

Official instructions
1 inclusion term

What these terms mean →

Billable · FY2027A valid, specific ICD-10-CM code, reportable for dates of service in FY2027.

What you need to know

Source: CMS/NCHS Official ICD-10-CM tabular notes, quoted. From the CMS/NCHS tabular list for the release in force. A note the category or block publishes applies to this code too, and is marked with where it comes from.

IncludesWhat this code covers
  • Diphtheritic laryngotracheitis

Where it sits Source: CMS/NCHS

Under:Chapter 1: Certain Infectious and Parasitic DiseasesA30-A49 Other bacterial diseasesA36 Diphtheria

CompareCheck ClaimView Related Codes

Inpatient Payment Groups (MS-DRG)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

MS-DRGs this diagnosis helps define, as principal or secondary, per the CMS ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v44, Appendix B.

  • MS-DRG 011 — TRACHEOSTOMY FOR FACE, MOUTH AND NECK DIAGNOSES OR LARYNGECTOMY WITH MCC (MDC PRE)
  • MS-DRG 012 — TRACHEOSTOMY FOR FACE, MOUTH AND NECK DIAGNOSES OR LARYNGECTOMY WITH CC (MDC PRE)
  • MS-DRG 013 — TRACHEOSTOMY FOR FACE, MOUTH AND NECK DIAGNOSES OR LARYNGECTOMY WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC PRE)
  • MS-DRG 154 — OTHER EAR, NOSE, MOUTH AND THROAT DIAGNOSES WITH MCC (MDC 03)
  • MS-DRG 155 — OTHER EAR, NOSE, MOUTH AND THROAT DIAGNOSES WITH CC (MDC 03)
  • MS-DRG 156 — OTHER EAR, NOSE, MOUTH AND THROAT DIAGNOSES WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 03)

A diagnosis appearing in a group's logic does not by itself determine the DRG assigned to a stay; the grouper uses the full claim.

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for A36.2 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Source: CMS/CDC — ICD-10-CM Tabular ListRelease: FY2027Effective: October 1, 2026

Trace:FY2027 changesChange historyRelease, file and checksum

Inclusion Terms

Alternative terms the tabular list files under this code.

  • Diphtheritic laryngotracheitis

Don’t confuse A36.2 with…

MedCoder analysis — pairs from this code’s official notes, distinctions written by MedCoder

The codes most likely to be picked instead of A36.2 — named in its own official notes, or sharing its laterality or encounter family — with what separates them and which documentation moves the case. Each links to the full comparison.

  • A36.9— Specificity relationship (Review)

    Overlapping diagnoses in the same category.

    Overlapping codes in the same category — the documentation decides which is the more specific fit.

    What moves you there: A record that documents no more than “Diphtheria, unspecified” takes A36.9; specificity in the record moves it back here.

    Full comparison: A36.2 vs A36.9 →

Relationships are read from this code's own official notes, its laterality siblings and its encounter family; the wording of each distinction is MedCoder editorial, and the documentation named in each “what moves you there” line is the official note phrase or sibling title itself. Source: CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes; ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a.

Coding context

Guidelines, coding notes, decision aids, relationships (with MS-DRG and CCSR classification), hierarchy, HCC, coverage and the context map: what a coder reaches for after the core. Each section names whether it is official source data, a MedCoder-derived relationship or MedCoder editorial.

Code Overview

Laryngeal diphtheria is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (A36.2).

MedCoder summary Summary composed by MedCoder from this code's official ICD-10-CM record. The tabular instructional notes themselves appear verbatim below.

Verify Before Coding

  • CC as a secondary diagnosis (FY2027). Can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier.

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim in Claim Check.

Relationships & Classification

MedCoder-derived relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets

MS-DRG Grouper Relationships (FY2027)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

FY2027 MS-DRG: CC — Complication or Comorbidity. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, this code raises the stay's MS-DRG severity tier — except when the principal diagnosis is one of 12 clinically related codes on its CMS exclusion list.

Named in the grouper logic of 6 MS-DRGs: DRG 011 (MDC PRE), DRG 012 (MDC PRE), DRG 013 (MDC PRE), DRG 154 (MDC 03), DRG 155 (MDC 03), DRG 156 (MDC 03).

From the CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendices B and C). Actual DRG assignment depends on the complete claim.

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):RSP006 — Other specified upper respiratory infections (default); INF003 — Bacterial infections.

Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Related Codes

Same clinical process (MS-DRG)

Acts as CC — raises the severity of other admissions. CMS groups these diagnoses into one MS-DRG principal-diagnosis exclusion process — a CC/MCC on this list never raises severity when the principal diagnosis is also on it.

A36.0 — Pharyngeal diphtheria, A36.1 — Nasopharyngeal diphtheria, A36.3 — Cutaneous diphtheria, A36.81 — Diphtheritic cardiomyopathy, A36.82 — Diphtheritic radiculomyelitis, A36.83 — Diphtheritic polyneuritis, A36.84 — Diphtheritic tubulo-interstitial nephropathy, A36.85 — Diphtheritic cystitis, A36.86 — Diphtheritic conjunctivitis, A36.89 — Other diphtheritic complications, A36.9 — Diphtheria, unspecified

Same clinical category (CCSR)

AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software groups these diagnoses under the same clinical categories (Other specified upper respiratory infections, Bacterial infections).

A15.5 — Tuberculosis of larynx, trachea and bronchus, A36.0 — Pharyngeal diphtheria, A36.1 — Nasopharyngeal diphtheria, A50.03 — Early congenital syphilitic pharyngitis, A52.73 — Symptomatic late syphilis of other respiratory organs, A54.5 — Gonococcal pharyngitis, A56.4 — Chlamydial infection of pharynx, B00.2 — Herpesviral gingivostomatitis and pharyngotonsillitis, B08.5 — Enteroviral vesicular pharyngitis, J00 — Acute nasopharyngitis [common cold], J02.0 — Streptococcal pharyngitis, J02.8 — Acute pharyngitis due to other specified organisms, J02.9 — Acute pharyngitis, unspecified, J04.0 — Acute laryngitis, J04.10 — Acute tracheitis without obstruction, J04.11 — Acute tracheitis with obstruction, J04.2 — Acute laryngotracheitis, J04.30 — Supraglottitis, unspecified, without obstruction, J04.31 — Supraglottitis, unspecified, with obstruction, J05.0 — Acute obstructive laryngitis [croup], +402 more

Same Index main term, other category

The ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries files this code under the main terms “Laryngitis”, “Paralysis, paralytic”, “Angina”; these codes share that main term but sit in a different category of the Tabular List.

A15.5 — Tuberculosis of larynx, trachea and bronchus (tuberculous), A50.03 — Early congenital syphilitic pharyngitis (syphilitic, congenital, early), A50.45 — Juvenile general paresis (juvenile general), A50.59 — Other late congenital syphilis, symptomatic (syphilitic, congenital), A52.15 — Late syphilitic neuropathy (nerve, syphilitic), A52.17 — General paresis (general), A52.73 — Symptomatic late syphilis of other respiratory organs (syphilitic), A69.1 — Other Vincent's infections (Vincent's), A80.30 — Acute paralytic poliomyelitis, unspecified (infantile), B08.5 — Enteroviral vesicular pharyngitis (aphthous), D86.89 — Sarcoidosis of other sites (uveoparotitic), F44.4 — Conversion disorder with motor symptom or deficit (hysterical), F44.89 — Other dissociative and conversion disorders (accommodation, hysterical), G11.4 — Hereditary spastic paraplegia (familial, spastic), G11.9 — Hereditary ataxia, unspecified (ataxic), G12.21 — Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (amyotrophic), G12.22 — Progressive bulbar palsy (bulbar), G12.23 — Primary lateral sclerosis (lateral), G12.25 — Progressive spinal muscle atrophy (spinal, progressive, muscle), G12.29 — Other motor neuron disease (wasting), +108 more

Contextual Map

Every relationship of A36.2 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Hierarchy

Clinical classification (CCSR)

MS-DRG Grouper

MDC crossing

  • Pre-MDC[MDC crossing]: “Pre-MDC — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs. 175 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2027
  • MDC 03 — Diseases and Disorders of the Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat[MDC crossing]: “Diseases and Disorders of the Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs. 5,151 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2027

Index entries (11)

  • Angina (attack) (cardiac) (chest) (heart) (pectoris) (syndrome) (vasomotor), stridulous, diphtheritic[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2027
  • Croup, croupous (catarrhal) (infectious) (inflammatory) (nondiphtheritic), diphtheritic[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2027
  • Croup, croupous (catarrhal) (infectious) (inflammatory) (nondiphtheritic), spasmodic, diphtheritic[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2027
  • Croup, croupous (catarrhal) (infectious) (inflammatory) (nondiphtheritic), stridulous, diphtheritic[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2027
  • Cynanche, diphtheritic[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2027
  • Diphtheria, diphtheritic (gangrenous) (hemorrhagic), laryngeal[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2027
  • Laryngismus (stridulus), diphtheritic[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2027
  • Laryngitis (acute) (edematous) (fibrinous) (infective) (infiltrative) (malignant) (membranous) (phlegmonous) (pneumococcal) (pseudomembranous) (septic) (subglottic) (suppurative) (ulcerative), diphtheritic[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2027
  • and 3 more

Nearest codes (13)

Change history

  • FY2016 — In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption [Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2016

Reference

Index terms and tables, published questions and FAQ, every source behind this page with its release and checksum, the date-of-service check and the complete change history.

Indexed Clinical Terms (11)

Official source data — entries quoted as published, in the Index’s own lookup phrasing

Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code. These are alphabetic-index entries shown as the Index writes them — lookup phrasing, not necessarily the wording of a final diagnosis.

Sources for this page

Codes, titles, notes, index terms and mappings on this page are transcribed from the datasets below. Relationships MedCoder computed and text MedCoder wrote are labelled where they appear.

Code, title, tabular notes and index terms Official source data
CMS/CDC ICD-10-CM FY2027 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2026 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Claim edits Official source data
CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v44.0 (October 2026) Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Inpatient payment groups Official source data
CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (incl. Appendix B diagnosis index, Appendix C CC/MCC list, Appendix E procedure index) and IPPS Final Rule tables — v44 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Change history and date-of-service validity Official source data
CMS ICD-10-CM release addenda, ingested release by release into the change ledger Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Comparisons, relationships and the contextual map MedCoder-derived relationship
Computed by MedCoder from the tabular notes and tables above; every derived relationship is marked as derived where it appears
Summary and FAQ answers MedCoder editorial explanation
Written by MedCoder to explain the sources above: drafted with AI assistance, checked by a person against the release files, and labelled as MedCoder text where it appears. Not official text.

Current data releases:ICD-10-CM FY2027 · ICD-10-PCS FY2027 · HCPCS October 2026 · MS-DRG v44 · Medicare Code Editor v44.0 · NCCI PTP Q4 2026 · MUE Q4 2026 · NCD code lists 2026-01 · LCD export September 28, 2026 · All releases and sources

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder-derived relationship · MedCoder editorial explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates · CMS coding rules

Cite this page

Reference this page in a research guide, syllabus or article. The release is included because code content changes each year.

MedCoder.ai. "A36.2 — Laryngeal diphtheria." ICD-10-CM FY2027. https://medcoder.ai/icd10/code/a36.2-laryngeal-diphtheria

Change history

  • FY2016 — October 1, 2015
    In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption
    Laryngeal diphtheria

No changes since FY2016 — additions, deletions, description changes and billable-status changes are tracked through FY2027, and none are recorded for this code. Note changes are tracked from FY2027 only.

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to A36.2 in its code family, with their registry titles.

View all codes in the A36 family