ICD-10 Code J20.1 – Acute bronchitis due to Hemophilus influenzae (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J20.1 – Acute bronchitis due to Hemophilus influenzae
What it is
This code identifies an acute bronchial infection caused by Hemophilus influenzae. Use it when documentation specifies this organism as the cause of the bronchitis.
Clinical signs
Clinical features vary; refer to documentation. Acute bronchitis commonly presents with cough and signs of lower airway inflammation, and the record should link the episode to Hemophilus influenzae when coding this diagnosis.
When to use this code
Use J20.1 when the provider documents acute bronchitis and names Hemophilus influenzae as the infectious agent. Apply it for confirmed or clearly documented organism-specific bronchitis, including cases where the note states the cause explicitly.
If the organism is not identified, check documentation before assigning this code. You should code the more specific diagnosis only when the chart supports the bacterial cause.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, or nonspecific acute bronchitis without documented Hemophilus influenzae. Check documentation if the cause is uncertain.
Coding tip
Code the organism only when the provider links Hemophilus influenzae directly to the acute bronchitis diagnosis.