ICD-10-CM 2027
ICD-10 code for otitis
From the official ICD-10-CM alphabetic index entry “Otitis (acute)”. Page updated September 29, 2026.
About coding otitis
The ICD-10-CM code for otitis is H66.90 (Otitis media, unspecified, unspecified ear). The official index lists 62 more specific codes, so check the documentation for details such as type, cause, site or severity before settling on H66.90.
Within H66.9, choose H66.90 (unspecified ear) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: right ear (H66.91), left ear (H66.92) and bilateral (H66.93).
Use an 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.-) and 1 more.
It is not a CC or MCC, so as a secondary diagnosis it doesn't change the MS-DRG severity level.
More specific otitis codes (official index)
- with effusion
- purulent
- adhesive
- chronic
- with effusion
- externa H60.9 — Unspecified otitis externa
- abscess
- acute (noninfective) H60.50 — Unspecified acute noninfective otitis externa
- actinic H60.51 — Acute actinic otitis externa
- chemical H60.52 — Acute chemical otitis externa
- contact H60.53 — Acute contact otitis externa
- eczematoid H60.54 — Acute eczematoid otitis externa
- infective
- reactive H60.55 — Acute reactive otitis externa
- specified NEC H60.59 — Other noninfective acute otitis externa
- cellulitis
- chronic H60.6 — Unspecified chronic otitis externa
- diffuse
- hemorrhagic
- in (due to)
- aspergillosis B44.89 — Other forms of aspergillosis
- candidiasis B37.84 — Candidal otitis externa
- erysipelas A46 — Erysipelas
- herpes (simplex) virus infection B00.1 — Herpesviral vesicular dermatitis
- zoster B02.8 — Zoster with other complications
- impetigo L01.00 — Impetigo, unspecified
- infectious disease NEC B99 — Other and unspecified infectious diseases
- mycosis NEC B36.9 — Superficial mycosis, unspecified
- parasitic disease NEC B89 — Unspecified parasitic disease
- viral disease NEC B34.9 — Viral infection, unspecified
- zoster B02.8 — Zoster with other complications
- infective NEC H60.39 — Other infective otitis externa
- abscess
- cellulitis
- diffuse H60.31 — Diffuse otitis externa
- hemorrhagic H60.32 — Hemorrhagic otitis externa
- swimmer's ear
- malignant H60.2 — Malignant otitis externa
- mycotic NEC B36.9 — Superficial mycosis, unspecified
- in
- aspergillosis B44.89 — Other forms of aspergillosis
- candidiasis B37.84 — Candidal otitis externa
- moniliasis B37.84 — Candidal otitis externa
- necrotizing
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- reactive
- specified NEC
- tropical NEC B36.9 — Superficial mycosis, unspecified
- in
- aspergillosis B44.89 — Other forms of aspergillosis
- candidiasis B37.84 — Candidal otitis externa
- moniliasis B37.84 — Candidal otitis externa
- insidiosa
- interna
- media (hemorrhagic) (staphylococcal) (streptococcal) H66.9 — Otitis media, unspecified
- with effusion (nonpurulent)
- acute, subacute H66.90 — Otitis media, unspecified, unspecified ear
- allergic
- exudative
- mucoid
- necrotizing
- in
- measles B05.3 — Measles complicated by otitis media
- scarlet fever A38.0 — Scarlet fever with otitis media
- nonsuppurative NEC
- purulent
- sanguinous
- secretory
- seromucinous
- serous
- suppurative
- allergic
- catarrhal
- chronic H66.90 — Otitis media, unspecified, unspecified ear
- with effusion (nonpurulent)
- allergic
- benign suppurative
- catarrhal
- exudative
- mucinous
- mucoid
- nonsuppurative NEC
- purulent
- secretory
- seromucinous
- serous
- suppurative
- transudative
- exudative
- in (due to) (with)
- influenza
- measles B05.3 — Measles complicated by otitis media
- scarlet fever A38.0 — Scarlet fever with otitis media
- tuberculosis A18.6 — Tuberculosis of (inner) (middle) ear
- viral disease NEC B34 — Viral infection of unspecified site
- mucoid
- nonsuppurative H65.9 — Unspecified nonsuppurative otitis media
- acute or subacute NEC H65.19 — Other acute nonsuppurative otitis media
- allergic H65.11 — Acute and subacute allergic otitis media (mucoid) (sanguinous) (serous)
- recurrent H65.11 — Acute and subacute allergic otitis media (mucoid) (sanguinous) (serous)
- recurrent H65.19 — Other acute nonsuppurative otitis media
- secretory
- serous H65.0 — Acute serous otitis media
- recurrent H65.0 — Acute serous otitis media
- chronic H65.49 — Other chronic nonsuppurative otitis media
- allergic H65.41 — Chronic allergic otitis media
- mucoid H65.3 — Chronic mucoid otitis media
- serous H65.2 — Chronic serous otitis media
- postmeasles B05.3 — Measles complicated by otitis media
- purulent
- secretory
- seromucinous
- serous
- suppurative H66.4 — Suppurative otitis media, unspecified
- acute H66.00 — Acute suppurative otitis media without spontaneous rupture of ear drum
- with rupture of ear drum H66.01 — Acute suppurative otitis media with spontaneous rupture of ear drum
- recurrent H66.00 — Acute suppurative otitis media without spontaneous rupture of ear drum
- with rupture of ear drum H66.01 — Acute suppurative otitis media with spontaneous rupture of ear drum
- chronic H66.3 — Other chronic suppurative otitis media
- atticoantral H66.2 — Chronic atticoantral suppurative otitis media
- benign
- tubotympanic H66.1 — Chronic tubotympanic suppurative otitis media
- transudative
- tuberculous A18.6 — Tuberculosis of (inner) (middle) ear
Common questions about otitis ICD-10 codes
What is the ICD-10 code for otitis?
- H66.90 — Otitis media, unspecified, unspecified ear. More specific codes apply when the documentation supports them: H60.9, H60.50, H60.51, H60.52 and others below.
What is the ICD-10 code for externa otitis?
- H60.9 — Unspecified otitis externa (header code; choose a more specific subcode).
What is the ICD-10 code for media otitis?
- H66.9 — Otitis media, unspecified (header code; choose a more specific subcode).
Is H66.90 billable?
- Yes. H66.90 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).
Can H66.90 be used as a principal diagnosis?
- Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict H66.90 as a principal diagnosis.
Is H66.90 a CC or MCC?
- No. H66.90 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.