Wiki Chronic Vs. Acute sore throat

[chrissylyman0629@gmail.com]

Patient has sore throat for 4 days. Is this coded as acute J02.9, chronic J31.2 or pain in throat R07.0?

 

[Chelle-Lynn]

A general rule of thumb is that a chronic condition is a health condition or disease that is persistent or otherwise long-lasting in its effects. The term chronic is usually applied when the course of the disease lasts for more than three months. An acute condition is one where symptoms appear suddenly and worsen rapidly, while a chronic condition is one that develops gradually and worsens over an extended period of time.

In the case of a 4 day sore throat it would be acute.

 

[chrissylyman0629@gmail.com]

So is J02.9 the correct code for an acute sore throat lasting 4 days?

 

[Chelle-Lynn]

This would depend on assessment from the provider, but generally yes, an acute sore throat is J02.9

J02.9 Acute pharyngitis, unspecified (sore throat acute)

J31.2 Chronic pharyngitis (sore throat chronic)

J02.0 Streptocopccal pharyngitis (strep throat)