H70.90 - Unspecified mastoiditis, unspecified ear

Version 2023
ICD-10:H70.90
Short Description:Unspecified mastoiditis, unspecified ear
Long Description:Unspecified mastoiditis, unspecified ear
Status: Valid for Submission
Version:ICD-10-CM 2023
Code Classification:
  • Diseases of the ear and mastoid process (H60–H95)
    • Diseases of middle ear and mastoid (H65-H75)
      • Mastoiditis and related conditions (H70)

H70.90 is a billable ICD-10 code used to specify a medical diagnosis of unspecified mastoiditis, unspecified ear. The code is valid during the fiscal year 2023 from October 01, 2022 through September 30, 2023 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions.

Unspecified diagnosis codes like H70.90 are acceptable when clinical information is unknown or not available about a particular condition. Although a more specific code is preferable, unspecified codes should be used when such codes most accurately reflect what is known about a patient's condition. Specific diagnosis codes should not be used if not supported by the patient's medical record.

Approximate Synonyms

The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:

Clinical Information

Convert to ICD-9 Code

Source ICD-10 CodeTarget ICD-9 Code
H70.90383.9 - Mastoiditis NOS
Approximate Flag - The approximate mapping means there is not an exact match between the ICD-10 and ICD-9 codes and the mapped code is not a precise representation of the original code.

Patient Education


Ear Infections

Ear infections are the most common reason parents bring their child to a doctor. Three out of four children will have at least one ear infection by their third birthday. Adults can also get ear infections, but they are less common.

The infection usually affects the middle ear and is called otitis media. The tubes inside the ears become clogged with fluid and mucus. This can affect hearing, because sound cannot get through all that fluid.

If your child isn't old enough to say "My ear hurts," here are a few things to look for:

Your health care provider will diagnose an ear infection by looking inside the ear with an instrument called an otoscope.

Often, ear infections go away on their own. Your health care provider may recommend pain relievers. Severe infections and infections in young babies may require antibiotics.

Children who get infections often may need surgery to place small tubes inside their ears. The tubes relieve pressure in the ears so that the child can hear again.

NIH: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History