J38.5 ICD-10-CA code: Laryngeal spasm
J38.5 is the ICD-10-CA code for “Laryngeal spasm” in CIHI’s FY 2026–2027 release, in effect from Apr 1, 2026.
Official description
J38.5Laryngeal spasm
ICD-10-CA · Canada · Also written J385
Index terms
Entries in CIHI’s alphabetical index that lead to J38.5. Searching the index by the condition the note names is how coders reach this code.
- Pseudocroup
- Laryngospasm
- Millar's asthma
- Laryngismus (stridulus)
- Spasm(s), spastic, spasticity, glottis
- Laryngotracheitis (acute) (infective), spasmodic
- Spasm(s), spastic, spasticity, larynx, laryngeal
- Laryngotracheitis (acute) (infective), stridulous
- Asthma, asthmatic (bronchial) (catarrh) (spasmodic), Millar's
- Croup, croupous (catarrhal) (infectious) (inflammatory) (nondiphtheritic), false
- Croup, croupous (catarrhal) (infectious) (inflammatory) (nondiphtheritic), spasmodic
- Croup, croupous (catarrhal) (infectious) (inflammatory) (nondiphtheritic), stridulous
Notes for J38.5
As CIHI prints them, with any note J38.5 takes from the headings above it.
Includes
- Laryngismus (stridulus)
Excludes
Conditions classified elsewhere.
- Laryngitis:• obstructive (acute) (J05.0)• ulcerative (J04.0)postoperative subglottic stenosis(J95.5)stridor:• NOS (R06.1)• congenital laryngeal (P28.8)From J38 Diseases of vocal cords and larynx, not elsewhere classified
- Certain:• conditions originating in the perinatal period (P00-P96)• infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O99)congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E90)injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T98)neoplasms (C00-D48)symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)From Chapter 10: Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99)
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).From Chapter 10: Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99)
Where J38.5 sits
- 1ChapterChapter 10: Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99)
- 2Block J30-J39Other diseases of upper respiratory tract
- 3Category J38Diseases of vocal cords and larynx, not elsewhere classified
- 4Valid code J38.5Laryngeal spasm
Source and release
- Data release
- ICD-10-CA · FY 2026–2027
- Effective date
- Apr 1, 2026
- Publisher
- CIHI
This page is built from the ICD-10-CA catalog that Vero Codes reads when it suggests codes: Canadian Institute for Health Information’s FY 2026–2027 release, imported from the publisher’s file and checked against it. The description, notes and structured data come from the same record.
Frequently asked questions
What does ICD-10-CA code J38.5 mean?
J38.5 is the ICD-10-CA code for “Laryngeal spasm” in CIHI’s ICD-10-CA FY 2026–2027 release.
Where is J38.5 in ICD-10-CA?
J38.5 sits under J38 Diseases of vocal cords and larynx, not elsewhere classified, within J30-J39 Other diseases of upper respiratory tract, within Chapter 10: Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99).
What coding notes apply to J38.5?
ICD-10-CA lists Includes, Excludes, Note notes for J38.5, including those from the headings it sits under. They are listed on this page with where each one comes from.
Which ICD-10-CA release does this page use?
It uses CIHI’s FY 2026–2027 release, in effect from Apr 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027. It is a reference: confirm the code against the current list and the payer’s rules before you submit it.