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J02.9 — Acute pharyngitis, unspecified
J02.9
What this code means
Acute pharyngitis is a sore, inflamed throat, most often caused by a virus.
Also called: sore throat, acute pharyngitis.
When this code is used
Used for acute pharyngitis when the cause is not specified.
Where it sits in ICD-10-CM
Code J02.9 belongs to Chapter 10: Diseases of the respiratory system, which covers codes J00–J99 in the FY2027 ICD-10-CM tabular list. The official description above is copied verbatim from the CDC/NCHS FY2027 code file.
Related symptoms
Watch: related videos
Frequently asked questions
What is ICD-10-CM code J02.9?
J02.9 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for “Acute pharyngitis, unspecified”. Acute pharyngitis is a sore, inflamed throat, most often caused by a virus.
When is code J02.9 used?
Used for acute pharyngitis when the cause is not specified. It belongs to Chapter 10 of ICD-10-CM (Diseases of the respiratory system).
This guide explains ICD-10-CM codes in plain language for patients, students and other readers. It is educational information only — not coding, billing or medical advice. The code recorded for any real encounter is assigned from the full clinical documentation by the treating team and qualified coders, and only they can decide which code fits a specific case.