ICD-10 Code J05.0 – Acute obstructive laryngitis [croup] (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J05.0 – Acute obstructive laryngitis [croup]
What it is
J05.0 identifies acute obstructive laryngitis, commonly called croup. It refers to inflammation of the larynx and upper airway that can narrow the passage for breathing.
Clinical signs
Typical findings include a barking cough, hoarseness, and inspiratory stridor. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation when the record does not clearly describe upper-airway obstruction.
When to use this code
Use J05.0 when the provider documents croup or acute obstructive laryngitis as the diagnosis. It also fits encounters describing classic upper-airway obstruction with barking cough and stridor, when the condition is confirmed in the note.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for nonspecific laryngitis without obstruction, or for chronic voice disorders. If documentation only mentions symptoms without a diagnosis, check documentation.
Coding tip
Code the documented diagnosis, not just the symptom pattern, and verify whether the provider specifically states croup or acute obstructive laryngitis.