Acute bronchitis, unspecified

This code represents an acute inflammation of the bronchi, characterized by cough, often with sputum production, and sometimes wheezing or shortness of breath. It is a self-limiting viral infection of the lower respiratory tract, without evidence of pneumonia or other specific causes.

Use this code when documentation indicates a diagnosis of acute bronchitis without further specification of the causative organism (e.g., viral, bacterial). This is appropriate when the provider has not identified a specific pathogen or when the etiology is presumed viral.

• Avoid using this code if a more specific type of acute bronchitis (e.g., due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae) is documented.
• Do not use this code if the documentation supports a diagnosis of chronic bronchitis (J42) or acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (J44.1).
• Ensure the documentation clearly states "acute bronchitis" and does not specify a bacterial or other infectious agent.