Acute bronchiolitis, unspecified

This code represents an acute inflammatory condition of the small airways (bronchioles) in the lungs, typically affecting infants and young children. It is characterized by wheezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing, often caused by viral infections. The "unspecified" nature indicates that the specific causative organism or further details of the condition are not documented.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of acute bronchiolitis without specifying the infectious agent (e.g., RSV, adenovirus). This code is appropriate when the provider's assessment confirms acute bronchiolitis but does not provide further specificity regarding the type or cause. Supporting documentation would include physician notes detailing symptoms consistent with acute bronchiolitis in a pediatric patient.

• Do not use this code if the documentation specifies the causative organism; instead, use a more specific code from J21.0-J21.8.
• Remember the Excludes1 note: never code this with chronic bronchiolitis (J44.89).
• Always review the medical record for any indication of the specific type of acute bronchiolitis before defaulting to the unspecified code.