In simple words: Simple chronic bronchitis is a long-lasting cough caused by inflamed airways in the lungs. You cough up mucus and this happens for at least three months a year, two years in a row.

Simple chronic bronchitis is a long-term inflammation of the bronchi, the main air passages in the lungs. It's characterized by a persistent cough with mucus production for at least three months in a year, for two consecutive years, without any other underlying disease causing the symptoms.

Example 1: A 55-year-old patient with a history of smoking presents with a persistent cough and phlegm production for the past four months, occurring over two consecutive years. After ruling out other causes, the physician diagnoses simple chronic bronchitis (J41.0)., A 60-year-old patient reports coughing up mucus every day for the last three months, a pattern repeating for the past three years.They have no other respiratory conditions. The diagnosis is simple chronic bronchitis (J41.0)., A patient with a two-year history of a chronic productive cough is seen by their physician. Diagnostic tests rule out other respiratory diseases, and simple chronic bronchitis (J41.0) is diagnosed.

Documentation should include the duration and nature of the cough, the presence and characteristics of sputum, history of smoking or exposure to irritants, and results of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) to assess lung function.

** Consider using additional codes to specify any exacerbations or complications, such as acute bronchitis.Excludes1 notes indicate that certain conditions like bronchospasm are not included in this code. Excludes2 notes specify further conditions not included in the code, like cystic fibrosis (E84.-).