J05.10 ICD-10-CM Code: Acute epiglottitis without obstruction

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for J05.10 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Source: CMS/CDC — ICD-10-CM Tabular ListRelease: FY2026Effective: October 1, 2025

Notes without a marker are published on J05.10 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

Coder workflow for J05.10

MedCoder structured workflow — derived from this code’s own official record

Before you code J05.10

1. Check the Excludes1 note: if the documentation supports a condition named there, do not simply proceed with J05.10. Excludes1 conditions are not reported together with this code unless the record shows they are unrelated (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

   See the official tabular notes

Choose the right path

1. Does the documentation support a condition named in J05.10’s Excludes1 note?
   Yes → Do not simply proceed: review the excluded code. Both are reported only when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated.
   No → Continue.

   ReviewJ44.0

Consider J05.10. Then work the Use Additional Code note and review the Code Also note, and confirm the code is valid for the date of service in the Verify section.

Documentation check

The provider’s diagnostic statement

Codes are assigned from the provider’s documented diagnosis, not from clinical criteria, test values or a medication list (Guidelines I.A.19).

Acuity

Acute or chronic as documented; when both are documented and separate codes exist, both are reported with the acute code first (Guidelines I.B.8).

The associated condition or complication

Whether the associated condition the title names is documented; the “with” convention presumes some links, and a provider statement that the conditions are unrelated defeats it (Guidelines I.A.15).

The conditions the Use Additional Code note names

Reported with this code when documented; a conditional instruction (“if applicable”, “if known”) applies only when the record supports it.

Official instructions as workflow

• Excludes1 — check before selecting J05.10(1 note)

  Coding workflow: If the documentation supports a condition named in this note, do not simply proceed with J05.10: the two are not reported together. The one exception is when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated to each other.

  CompareJ44.0

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.a

• Excludes2 — not part of J05.10(1 note)

  Coding workflow: The conditions named in this note are not included in J05.10. When the record documents both, both may be reported; the note is a boundary, not a prohibition.

  CompareJ37.0

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.b

• Use Additional Code — after identifying J05.10(1 note)

  Coding workflow: Check whether the documentation supports the additional code(s) the note names, and report them with J05.10 when it does. Where the instruction is conditional (“if applicable”, “if known”), it applies only when the record documents the condition.

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.13

• Code Also — related condition(4 notes)

  Coding workflow: Review the related condition when both are documented and the instruction applies. A Code Also note does not fix sequencing; the order follows the circumstances of the encounter.

  ReviewJ09.X2, J10.1, J11.1

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.17

Coding decision scenarios

Pattern scenarios for this code’s structure — decision rules, not clinical cases

Every row is derived from this code’s own record — its title, tabular notes, 7th-character family and same-category siblings — with fixed MedCoder wording; nothing is inferred about a patient. The official notes and guideline text are in the sections each row links to, and they control.

Indexed Clinical Terms (1)

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.

• Epiglottitis, epiglottiditis (acute)

Don’t confuse J05.10 with…

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

The codes most likely to be picked instead of J05.10 — 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.

• J44.0— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

  Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

  Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

  What moves you there: Documentation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with acute lower respiratory infection moves the case to J44.0; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

  Full comparison: J05.10 vs J44.0 →

• J37.0— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of epiglottitis, chronic adds J37.0; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: J05.10 vs J37.0 →

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.

Decision Points

The directives on this code's own record, as a pre-claim checklist.

1. 1 Use Additional Code instruction — report the named additional code(s) when the documentation supports them. See the Use Additional Code notes
2. 4 Code Also notes — a second code may apply; the guidelines leave its sequencing to the circumstances of the encounter. See the Code Also notes
3. 1 Excludes1 entry — codes named there are generally not reported together with this code (Guidelines I.A.12.a). See the Excludes1 notes
4. 1 Excludes2 entry — those conditions are not part of this code and may be reported additionally when documented. See the Excludes2 notes

Checklist rows are derived from this code's own official directives; the wording of each check is MedCoder editorial. The official notes themselves are in the sections each row links to.

Verify Before Coding

• CC as a secondary diagnosis (FY2026). 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 structured relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets

Other codes that name J05.10 or its code family, from the CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes. Tabular-note edges are stored at the code family level that carries each note.

Referenced by 1 Excludes1 note: J04 — Acute laryngitis and tracheitis (via J05.-).

These codes’ tabular lists mark this diagnosis as mutually exclusive — not reported together unless the conditions are documented as unrelated.

Referenced by 1 Code Also instruction: D81.82 — Activated Phosphoinositide 3-kinase Delta Syndrome [APDS] (via J05.-).

These codes suggest coding this condition alongside when both are present.

MS-DRG Grouper Relationships (FY2026)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

FY2026 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 8 clinically related codes on its CMS exclusion list.

Named in the grouper logic of 5 MS-DRGs: DRG 011 (MDC PRE), DRG 012 (MDC PRE), DRG 013 (MDC PRE), DRG 152 (MDC 03), DRG 153 (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).

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.

J04.31 — Supraglottitis, unspecified, with obstruction, J05.11 — Acute epiglottitis with obstruction, N80.B1 — Endometriosis of pleura, N80.B2 — Endometriosis of lung, N80.B31 — Superficial endometriosis of diaphragm, N80.B32 — Deep endometriosis of diaphragm, N80.B39 — Endometriosis of diaphragm, unspecified depth

Same clinical category (CCSR)

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

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], J05.11 — Acute epiglottitis with obstruction, J06.0 — Acute laryngopharyngitis, J06.9 — Acute upper respiratory infection, unspecified, J39.0 — Retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscess, J39.1 — Other abscess of pharynx, +6 more

Same Index main term, other category

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

J37.0 — Chronic laryngitis

Contextual Map

Every relationship of J05.10 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.

Run J05.10 with these 2 related codes in Claim Check

Hierarchy

• J00-J99 — Chapter 10: Diseases of the Respiratory System (J00-J99) (J00-J99)[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026

Referenced by Excludes1 notes

• J04 — Acute laryngitis and tracheitis[Excludes1](via J05.-): “acute obstructive laryngitis [croup] and epiglottitis (J05.-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Referenced by Code Also instructions

• D81.82 — Activated Phosphoinositide 3-kinase Delta Syndrome [APDS][Code Also](via J05.-): “other acute respiratory tract infections (J00-J06; J20-J22)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Clinical classification (CCSR)

• RSP006 — Other specified upper respiratory infections[CCSR]— AHRQ CCSR for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses (HCUP)

MS-DRG Grouper

• CC — Complication or Comorbidity [MS-DRG severity]: “As a secondary diagnosis this code can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier (CC).”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix C) · FY2026
• DRG 011 — TRACHEOSTOMY FOR FACE, MOUTH AND NECK DIAGNOSES OR LARYNGECTOMY WITH MCC[MS-DRG]: “TRACHEOSTOMY FOR FACE, MOUTH AND NECK DIAGNOSES OR LARYNGECTOMY WITH MCC (MDC PRE)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 012 — TRACHEOSTOMY FOR FACE, MOUTH AND NECK DIAGNOSES OR LARYNGECTOMY WITH CC[MS-DRG]: “TRACHEOSTOMY FOR FACE, MOUTH AND NECK DIAGNOSES OR LARYNGECTOMY WITH CC (MDC PRE)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 013 — TRACHEOSTOMY FOR FACE, MOUTH AND NECK DIAGNOSES OR LARYNGECTOMY WITHOUT CC/MCC[MS-DRG]: “TRACHEOSTOMY FOR FACE, MOUTH AND NECK DIAGNOSES OR LARYNGECTOMY WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC PRE)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 152 — OTITIS MEDIA AND URI WITH MCC[MS-DRG]: “OTITIS MEDIA AND URI WITH MCC (MDC 03)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 153 — OTITIS MEDIA AND URI WITHOUT MCC[MS-DRG]: “OTITIS MEDIA AND URI WITHOUT MCC (MDC 03)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026

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. 153 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2026
• 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. 5,147 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2026

Index entries

• Epiglottitis, epiglottiditis (acute)[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026

Nearest codes

• J05 — Acute obstructive laryngitis [croup] and epiglottitis[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• J05.0 — Acute obstructive laryngitis [croup][Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• J05.1 — Acute epiglottitis[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• J05.11 — Acute epiglottitis with obstruction[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026

Change history

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

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 FY2026 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2025 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Claim edits Official source data

CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v43.1 (April 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 — v43 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 structured 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 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.

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder structured relationship · MedCoder explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to J05.10 in its code family, with their registry titles.

• J05 — Acute obstructive laryngitis [croup] and epiglottitis
• J05.0 — Acute obstructive laryngitis [croup]
• J05.1 — Acute epiglottitis
• J05.11 — Acute epiglottitis with obstruction

View all codes in the J05 family