ICD-10-CM Code For Unspecified Acute Lower Respiratory Infection: Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group J22 includes acute lower respiratory infections that are not specified elsewhere, such as unspecified acute bronchitis or bronchiolitis when no definitive organism or precise diagnosis is documented. These ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to document acute infections of the lower respiratory tract where clinical signs indicate significant illness but specific laboratory or etiologic details are lacking. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-CM J22 group supports proper claim adjudication, complete clinical documentation, and appropriate reimbursement.

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ICD-10-CM J22: Unspecified Acute Lower Respiratory Infection Overview

The ICD-10-CM J22 group represents unspecified acute lower respiratory infections affecting the lower respiratory tract, such as bronchitis or bronchiolitis when a more specific etiology is not documented. These diagnoses target the lungs and lower airways and are used when clinical findings indicate an acute infection but the organism or specific diagnosis remains unconfirmed. Accurate coding ensures clinical records reflect the level of diagnostic certainty and supports correct claim processing and reimbursement.

When to Use

Use a code from this group when a patient presents with signs and symptoms of an acute lower respiratory infection and the clinician documents an unspecified diagnosis without identifying a causative organism or a more precise condition. These codes apply when further diagnostic testing has not established a specific etiology or when documentation does not support a more detailed code.

ICD-10-CM Codes

1 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
J22	Unspecified acute lower respiratory infection

DRG Codes

2 rows

DRG Code	Description
205	Other Respiratory System Diagnoses with MCC
206	Other Respiratory System Diagnoses without MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An adult presents to the emergency department with sudden onset of productive cough, pleuritic chest pain, fever of 38.9°C, tachypnea, and diffuse crackles on lung exam after a brief upper respiratory prodrome. Chest radiograph shows no focal lobar consolidation to suggest bacterial pneumonia, and rapid viral testing is negative; symptoms are acute and lower respiratory in nature, so an unspecified acute lower respiratory infection diagnosis is assigned for acute management and surveillance. Typical codes: J22.
An elderly nursing home resident develops new hypoxia, increased sputum production, and cough over 48 hours without clear alternative diagnosis; chest imaging is inconclusive and the clinical team documents an acute lower respiratory infection without specified organism. Because the presentation is acute, community-acquired in a frail patient, and the etiology is not determined, an unspecified acute lower respiratory infection code is used for the encounter. Typical codes: J22.
A previously healthy child is seen in urgent care for abrupt onset wheeze, cough, and respiratory distress following two days of rhinorrhea; exam and rapid testing do not identify bronchiolitis or pneumonia specifically, and clinicians document an acute lower respiratory infection of unspecified type for coding and follow-up. Typical codes: J22.

Related Codes

J20-ACUTE-BRONCHITIS

ICD-10-CM Code For Acute Bronchitis: Group Overview

J21-ACUTE-BRONCHIOLITIS

ICD-10-CM Code For Acute Bronchiolitis: Group Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

1 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
J22	Unspecified acute lower respiratory infection

DRG Codes

2 rows

DRG Code	Description
205	Other Respiratory System Diagnoses with MCC
206	Other Respiratory System Diagnoses without MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An adult presents to the emergency department with sudden onset of productive cough, pleuritic chest pain, fever of 38.9°C, tachypnea, and diffuse crackles on lung exam after a brief upper respiratory prodrome. Chest radiograph shows no focal lobar consolidation to suggest bacterial pneumonia, and rapid viral testing is negative; symptoms are acute and lower respiratory in nature, so an unspecified acute lower respiratory infection diagnosis is assigned for acute management and surveillance. Typical codes: J22.
An elderly nursing home resident develops new hypoxia, increased sputum production, and cough over 48 hours without clear alternative diagnosis; chest imaging is inconclusive and the clinical team documents an acute lower respiratory infection without specified organism. Because the presentation is acute, community-acquired in a frail patient, and the etiology is not determined, an unspecified acute lower respiratory infection code is used for the encounter. Typical codes: J22.
A previously healthy child is seen in urgent care for abrupt onset wheeze, cough, and respiratory distress following two days of rhinorrhea; exam and rapid testing do not identify bronchiolitis or pneumonia specifically, and clinicians document an acute lower respiratory infection of unspecified type for coding and follow-up. Typical codes: J22.

Related Codes

J20-ACUTE-BRONCHITIS

ICD-10-CM Code For Acute Bronchitis: Group Overview

J21-ACUTE-BRONCHIOLITIS

ICD-10-CM Code For Acute Bronchiolitis: Group Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

ICD-10-CM Code For Unspecified Acute Lower Respiratory Infection: Group Overview

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ICD-10-CM J22: Unspecified Acute Lower Respiratory Infection Overview

ICD-10-CM Code For Unspecified Acute Lower Respiratory Infection: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Unspecified Acute Lower Respiratory Infection: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM J22: Unspecified Acute Lower Respiratory Infection Overview

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What diagnosis does the ICD-10-CM group `J22` represent?

When should a coder use `J22` instead of a more specific lower respiratory code?

How does accurate use of `J22` affect reimbursement and claims?

Which DRGs are related to the `J22` diagnosis group?

Does `J22` cover both bronchitis and bronchiolitis when unspecified?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What diagnosis does the ICD-10-CM group `J22` represent?

When should a coder use `J22` instead of a more specific lower respiratory code?

How does accurate use of `J22` affect reimbursement and claims?

Which DRGs are related to the `J22` diagnosis group?

Does `J22` cover both bronchitis and bronchiolitis when unspecified?

References