Exacerbation of a respiratory disease.

How would you describe an “exacerbation” of a respiratory disease.

When acute respiratory failure is present with another respiratory condition, how is the acute respiratory failure code sequenced with the other respiratory diagnoses?

When the physician documents on an inpatient’s record that the patient has possible influenza due to certain identified influenza viruses such as avian influenza (category J09), should the diagnosis be coded for the inpatient?

When should Code J95.851, Ventilator associated pneumonia be coded?

The upper respiratory tract includes which of the respiratory sites?

What type of pneumonia is not a type of bacterial pneumonia?

Is pleural effusion included in Chronic lower respiratory diseases?

When a patient develops an inflammation of the walls of the lung tissue due to the inhalation of food, vomit, or other solids or liquids it is likely to be described by the physician and coded as what condition?

Under code J98.01, Acute bronchospasm, there is an Excludes 1 note that states:

            Acute bronchiolitis with bronchospasm (J21.-)

            Acute bronchitis with bronchospasm (J20.-)

            Asthma (J45.-)

            Exercise induced bronchospasm (J45.990)

How should the Excludes 1 note be interpreted for the coding of bronchospasm?

Under category J03, Acute tonsillitis, two notes appear to inform the coder:

            Excludes 1:      Acute sore throat (J02.-)

                                    Hypertrophy of tonsils (J35.1)

                                    Peritonsillar abscess (J36)

                                    Sore throat NOS (J02.9)

                                    Streptococcal sore throat (J02.0)

            Excludes 2:      Chronic tonsillitis (J35.0)

How should the Excludes 1 and Excludes 2 notes be interpreted with the coding of acute tonsillitis, codes within category J03?