Acute cough

This code represents a sudden onset of a cough that has been present for less than three weeks. It is typically a symptom of an acute respiratory infection or irritation, rather than a chronic underlying condition.

Use this code when documentation specifies a patient presenting with a cough of recent onset and short duration, without further specificity regarding its etiology. This is appropriate for acute bronchitis, common cold, or other transient respiratory irritations where the cough is the primary complaint.

• Do not use this code if the documentation specifies a chronic cough (e.g., lasting over 8 weeks).
• Always code the underlying cause of the cough if known and documented (e.g., J20.9 for acute bronchitis).
• This code is often used as a secondary diagnosis when the primary diagnosis is an acute respiratory infection.