ICD-10 Code for Pharyngitis
Also indexed as (acute) (catarrhal)(gangrenous) (infective) (malignant) (membranous) (phlegmonous) (pseudomembranous) (simple) (subacute) (suppurative) (ulcerative)
The ICD-10-CM code for pharyngitis is J02.9 — Acute pharyngitis, unspecified. This is the code the Alphabetic Index gives for pharyngitis with no further qualifier, valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).
J02.9 is billable but unspecified. If the documentation names a type, site or cause, one of the more specific codes below is likely expected.
Which pharyngitis code should you use?
The Alphabetic Index lists 13 codes under Pharyngitis. Which one applies depends on the qualifier documented in the record — the type, site, cause, or associated condition. Find the qualifier below, then verify the code in the Tabular List before using it.
By type
| aphthous | B08.5 | Enteroviral vesicular pharyngitis | |
| atrophic | J31.2 | Chronic pharyngitis | |
| chlamydial | A56.4 | Chlamydial infection of pharynx | |
| chronic | J31.2 | Chronic pharyngitis | |
| coxsackievirus | B08.5 | Enteroviral vesicular pharyngitis | |
| diphtheritic | A36.0 | Pharyngeal diphtheria | |
| enteroviral vesicular | B08.5 | Enteroviral vesicular pharyngitis | |
| follicular | J31.2 | Chronic pharyngitis | |
| fusospirochetal | A69.1 | Other Vincent's infections | |
| gonococcal | A54.5 | Gonococcal pharyngitis | |
| granular | J31.2 | Chronic pharyngitis | |
| herpesviral | B00.2 | Herpesviral gingivostomatitis and pharyngotonsillitis | |
| hypertrophic | J31.2 | Chronic pharyngitis | |
| infectional, chronic | J31.2 | Chronic pharyngitis | |
| lymphonodular, acute | B08.8 | Other specified viral infections characterized by skin and mucous membrane lesions | |
| pneumococcal | J02.8 | Acute pharyngitis due to other specified organisms | |
| purulent | J02.9 | Acute pharyngitis, unspecified | |
| putrid | J02.9 | Acute pharyngitis, unspecified | |
| septic | J02.0 | Streptococcal pharyngitis | |
| sicca | J31.2 | Chronic pharyngitis | |
| specified organism NEC | J02.8 | Acute pharyngitis due to other specified organisms | |
| staphylococcal | J02.8 | Acute pharyngitis due to other specified organisms | |
| streptococcal | J02.0 | Streptococcal pharyngitis | |
| syphilitic, congenital | A50.03 | Early congenital syphilitic pharyngitis | |
| tuberculous | A15.8 | Other respiratory tuberculosis | |
| vesicular, enteroviral | B08.5 | Enteroviral vesicular pharyngitis | |
| viral NEC | J02.8 | Acute pharyngitis due to other specified organisms |
Index terms and codes are reproduced from the official ICD-10-CM FY2027 release. The Alphabetic Index is a finding aid — a code must always be verified in the Tabular List before it is reported. Data sources