ICDcodes.org
FY2027

J04.0 vs J05.0

J04.0 and J05.0 can never be reported together. ICD-10-CM declares them mutually exclusive with an Excludes1 note, meaning the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient — so exactly one of them is correct for any given encounter.

The official note, declared on J04.0
acute obstructive laryngitis (J05.0)
J04.0

Acute laryngitis

Billable
Chapter 10
Diseases of the respiratory system
Section
J00-J06
Use when the record says
  • Edematous laryngitis (acute)
  • Laryngitis (acute) NOS
  • Subglottic laryngitis (acute)
  • Suppurative laryngitis (acute)
  • Ulcerative laryngitis (acute)
Indexed under
  • Glottitis
  • Laryngitis (acute) (edematous) (fibrinous) (infective) (infiltrative) (malignant) (membranous) (phlegmonous) (pneumococcal) (pseudomembranous) (septic) (subglottic) (suppurative) (ulcerative)
  • Gangrene, gangrenous › laryngitis (connective tissue) (dropsical) (dry) (moist) (skin) (ulcer)
  • Laryngitis › Hemophilus influenzae (acute) (edematous) (fibrinous) (infective) (infiltrative) (malignant) (membranous) (phlegmonous) (pneumococcal) (pseudomembranous) (septic) (subglottic) (suppurative) (ulcerative)
  • Laryngitis › H. influenzae (acute) (edematous) (fibrinous) (infective) (infiltrative) (malignant) (membranous) (phlegmonous) (pneumococcal) (pseudomembranous) (septic) (subglottic) (suppurative) (ulcerative)
J05.0

Acute obstructive laryngitis [croup]

Billable
Chapter 10
Diseases of the respiratory system
Section
J00-J06
Use when the record says
  • Obstructive laryngitis (acute) NOS
  • Obstructive laryngotracheitis NOS
Indexed under
  • Croup, croupous (catarrhal) (infectious) (inflammatory) (nondiphtheritic)
  • Angina › croupous (attack) (cardiac) (chest) (heart) (pectoris) (syndrome) (vasomotor)
  • Angina › membranous (attack) (cardiac) (chest) (heart) (pectoris) (syndrome) (vasomotor)
  • Angina › trachealis (attack) (cardiac) (chest) (heart) (pectoris) (syndrome) (vasomotor)
  • Laryngitis › obstructive (acute) (edematous) (fibrinous) (infective) (infiltrative) (malignant) (membranous) (phlegmonous) (pneumococcal) (pseudomembranous) (septic) (subglottic) (suppurative) (ulcerative)

Excludes1 is not always absolute: where two conditions covered by the note are genuinely unrelated, CMS guidance permits reporting both. Document the reasoning rather than assuming it. More on Excludes1 vs Excludes2 · FY2027