ICD-10-CM Codes
J00-J99
J30-J39
J38-
2023 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J38.5

2023 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J38.5

Laryngeal spasm

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Billable/Specific Code

J38.5 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes.
The 2023 edition of ICD-10-CM J38.5 became effective on October 1, 2022.
This is the American ICD-10-CM version of J38.5 - other international versions of ICD-10 J38.5 may differ.

Applicable To

Laryngismus (stridulus)

The following code(s) above J38.5 contain annotation back-references

Annotation Back-References

In this context, annotation back-references refer to codes that contain:

Applicable To annotations, or
Code Also annotations, or
Code First annotations, or
Excludes1 annotations, or
Excludes2 annotations, or
Includes annotations, or
Note annotations, or
Use Additional annotations

that may be applicable to J38.5:

J00-J99
2023 ICD-10-CM Range J00-J99
Diseases of the respiratory system
Note
- When a respiratory condition is described as occurring in more than one site and is not specifically indexed, it should be classified to the lower anatomic site (e.g. tracheobronchitis to bronchitis in J40).
Type 2 Excludes
- certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
- certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
- complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
- congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
- endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
- injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
- neoplasms (C00-D49)
- smoke inhalation (T59.81-)
- symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)
Use Additional
- code, where applicable, to identify:
- exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)
- exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81)
- history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)
- occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31)
- tobacco dependence (F17.-)
- tobacco use (Z72.0)
Diseases of the respiratory system
J38
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J38
Diseases of vocal cords and larynx, not elsewhere classified
Type 1 Excludes
- congenital laryngeal stridor (P28.89)
- obstructive laryngitis (acute) (J05.0)
- postprocedural subglottic stenosis (J95.5)
- stridor (R06.1)
- ulcerative laryngitis (J04.0)
Use Additional
- code to identify:
- exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)
- exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81)
- history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)
- occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31)
- tobacco dependence (F17.-)
- tobacco use (Z72.0)
Diseases of vocal cords and larynx, not elsewhere classified

Approximate Synonyms

Croup, spasmodic
Laryngospasm

Clinical Information

A disorder characterized by paroxysmal spasmodic muscular contraction of the vocal cords.
A disorder in which the adductor muscles of the vocal cords exhibit increased activity leading to laryngeal spasm. Laryngismus causes closure of the vocal folds and airflow obstruction during inspiration.
Paroxysmal spasmodic muscular contraction of the vocal cords. It is brief, usually lasting for less than one minute, interrupting the speech and breathing and may produce a high-pitched breathing sound. It may occur under anesthesia or may be associated with gastroesophageal reflex disease.

ICD-10-CM J38.5 is grouped within Diagnostic Related Group(s) (MS-DRG v40.0):

011 Tracheostomy for face, mouth and neck diagnoses or laryngectomy with mcc
012 Tracheostomy for face, mouth and neck diagnoses or laryngectomy with cc
013 Tracheostomy for face, mouth and neck diagnoses or laryngectomy without cc/mcc
154 Other ear, nose, mouth and throat diagnoses with mcc
155 Other ear, nose, mouth and throat diagnoses with cc
156 Other ear, nose, mouth and throat diagnoses without cc/mcc
791 Prematurity with major problems
793 Full term neonate with major problems

Convert J38.5 to ICD-9-CM

Code History

2016 (effective 10/1/2015): New code (first year of non-draft ICD-10-CM)
2017 (effective 10/1/2016): No change
2018 (effective 10/1/2017): No change
2019 (effective 10/1/2018): No change
2020 (effective 10/1/2019): No change
2021 (effective 10/1/2020): No change
2022 (effective 10/1/2021): No change
2023 (effective 10/1/2022): No change

Code annotations containing back-references to J38.5:

Type 1 Excludes: R06.1

ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R06.1
Stridor
Type 1 Excludes
- congenital laryngeal stridor (P28.89)
- laryngismus (stridulus) (J38.5)
Type 2 Excludes: J04

ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J04
Acute laryngitis and tracheitis
Code Also
- influenza, if present, such as:
- influenza due to identified novel influenza A virus with other respiratory manifestations (J09.X2)
- influenza due to other identified influenza virus with other respiratory manifestations (J10.1)
- influenza due to unidentified influenza virus with other respiratory manifestations (J11.1)
Type 1 Excludes
- acute obstructive laryngitis [croup] and epiglottitis (J05.-)
Type 2 Excludes
- laryngismus (stridulus) (J38.5)
Use Additional
- code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent.

Diagnosis Index entries containing back-references to J38.5:

Asthma, asthmatic (bronchial) (catarrh) (spasmodic) J45.909
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J45.909
Unspecified asthma, uncomplicated
Applicable To
Asthma NOS
Type 2 Excludes
lung diseases due to external agents (J60-J70)
- Millar's J38.5 (laryngismus stridulus)
- Wichmann's J38.5 (laryngismus stridulus)
Croup, croupous (catarrhal) (infectious) (inflammatory) (nondiphtheritic) J05.0
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J05.0
Acute obstructive laryngitis [croup]
Applicable To
Obstructive laryngitis (acute) NOS
Obstructive laryngotracheitis NOS
- spasmodic J38.5
- stridulous J38.5
- false J38.5
False - see also condition
- croup J38.5
Laryngismus (stridulus) J38.5
Laryngospasm J38.5
Laryngotracheitis (acute) (Infectional) (infective) (viral) J04.2
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J04.2
Acute laryngotracheitis
Applicable To
Laryngotracheitis NOS
Tracheitis (acute) with laryngitis (acute)
Type 1 Excludes
acute obstructive laryngotracheitis (J05.0)
Type 2 Excludes
chronic laryngotracheitis (J37.1)
- spasmodic J38.5
- stridulous J38.5
Millar's asthma J38.5
Obstruction, obstructed, obstructive
- airway J98.8
  ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J98.8
  Other specified respiratory disorders
  2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Billable/Specific Code
  - due to
    - laryngospasm J38.5
Pseudocroup J38.5
Spasm(s) R25.2
- see also condition
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R25.2
Cramp and spasm
Type 2 Excludes
carpopedal spasm (R29.0)
charley-horse (M62.831)
infantile spasms (G40.4-)
muscle spasm of back (M62.830)
muscle spasm of calf (M62.831)
- glottis J38.5
  - reflex through recurrent laryngeal nerve J38.5
- larynx, laryngeal J38.5
Wichman's asthma J38.5

ICD-10-CM Codes Adjacent To J38.5

J37.1 Chronic laryngotracheitis

J38 Diseases of vocal cords and larynx, not elsewhere classified

J38.0 Paralysis of vocal cords and larynx

J38.00 …… unspecified

J38.01 …… unilateral

J38.02 …… bilateral

J38.1 Polyp of vocal cord and larynx

J38.2 Nodules of vocal cords

J38.3 Other diseases of vocal cords

J38.4 Edema of larynx

J38.5 Laryngeal spasm

J38.6 Stenosis of larynx

J38.7 Other diseases of larynx

J39 Other diseases of upper respiratory tract

J39.0 Retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscess

J39.1 Other abscess of pharynx

J39.2 Other diseases of pharynx

J39.3 Upper respiratory tract hypersensitivity reaction, site unspecified

J39.8 Other specified diseases of upper respiratory tract

J39.9 Disease of upper respiratory tract, unspecified

J40 Bronchitis, not specified as acute or chronic

Reimbursement claims with a date of service on or after October 1, 2015 require the use of ICD-10-CM codes.

2023 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J38.5

Laryngeal spasm

Diseases of the respiratory system

Diseases of vocal cords and larynx, not elsewhere classified

Stridor

Acute laryngitis and tracheitis

Unspecified asthma, uncomplicated

Acute obstructive laryngitis [croup]

Acute laryngotracheitis

Other specified respiratory disorders

Cramp and spasm