Otitis externa (H60)
ICD-10 code section H60 covers various types of otitis externa, which is inflammation or infection of the external ear canal and surrounding ear structures. These codes specify conditions ranging from abscesses and cellulitis to malignant and chronic forms of otitis externa.
This section helps healthcare professionals accurately document and bill for diagnoses of ear infections such as swimmer’s ear (H60.33), malignant otitis externa (H60.2), and other infective or noninfective external ear inflammations. The codes distinguish affected ears (right, left, bilateral, or unspecified), which streamlines clinical communication. Common synonyms like furunculosis of external auditory meatus (H60.00), cholesteatoma of external ear (H60.4), and allergic contact dermatitis of the pinna (H60.539) assist coders in matching clinical terms to precise codes. For example, an abscess of external ear maps to H60.0, while diffuse otitis externa falls under H60.31.
These detailed distinctions ensure clear documentation for treatment of external ear infections and inflammatory conditions, supporting efficient coding practices across diverse clinical scenarios involving external ear disorders.
- H60 - Otitis externa
- H60.0 - Abscess of external ear
- H60.1 - Cellulitis of external ear
- H60.2 - Malignant otitis externa
- H60.3 - Other infective otitis externa
- H60.31 - Diffuse otitis externa
- H60.32 - Hemorrhagic otitis externa
- H60.33 - Swimmer's ear
- H60.39 - Other infective otitis externa
- H60.4 - Cholesteatoma of external ear
- H60.5 - Acute noninfective otitis externa
- H60.50 - Unspecified acute noninfective otitis externa
- H60.51 - Acute actinic otitis externa
- H60.52 - Acute chemical otitis externa
- H60.53 - Acute contact otitis externa
- H60.54 - Acute eczematoid otitis externa
- H60.55 - Acute reactive otitis externa
- H60.59 - Other noninfective acute otitis externa
- H60.6 - Unspecified chronic otitis externa
- H60.8 - Other otitis externa
- H60.8X - Other otitis externa
- H60.9 - Unspecified otitis externa
Diseases of the ear and mastoid process (H60–H95)
Diseases of external ear (H60-H62)
H60 Otitis externa
H60.0 Abscess of external ear
- H60.00 Abscess of external ear, unspecified ear
- H60.01 Abscess of right external ear
- H60.02 Abscess of left external ear
- H60.03 Abscess of external ear, bilateral
H60.1 Cellulitis of external ear
- H60.10 Cellulitis of external ear, unspecified ear
- H60.11 Cellulitis of right external ear
- H60.12 Cellulitis of left external ear
- H60.13 Cellulitis of external ear, bilateral
H60.2 Malignant otitis externa
- H60.20 Malignant otitis externa, unspecified ear
- H60.21 Malignant otitis externa, right ear
- H60.22 Malignant otitis externa, left ear
- H60.23 Malignant otitis externa, bilateral
H60.3 Other infective otitis externa
H60.31 Diffuse otitis externa
- H60.311 Diffuse otitis externa, right ear
- H60.312 Diffuse otitis externa, left ear
- H60.313 Diffuse otitis externa, bilateral
- H60.319 Diffuse otitis externa, unspecified ear
H60.32 Hemorrhagic otitis externa
- H60.321 Hemorrhagic otitis externa, right ear
- H60.322 Hemorrhagic otitis externa, left ear
- H60.323 Hemorrhagic otitis externa, bilateral
- H60.329 Hemorrhagic otitis externa, unspecified ear
H60.33 Swimmer's ear
- H60.331 Swimmer's ear, right ear
- H60.332 Swimmer's ear, left ear
- H60.333 Swimmer's ear, bilateral
- H60.339 Swimmer's ear, unspecified ear
H60.39 Other infective otitis externa
- H60.391 Other infective otitis externa, right ear
- H60.392 Other infective otitis externa, left ear
- H60.393 Other infective otitis externa, bilateral
- H60.399 Other infective otitis externa, unspecified ear
H60.4 Cholesteatoma of external ear
- H60.40 Cholesteatoma of external ear, unspecified ear
- H60.41 Cholesteatoma of right external ear
- H60.42 Cholesteatoma of left external ear
- H60.43 Cholesteatoma of external ear, bilateral
H60.5 Acute noninfective otitis externa
H60.50 Unspecified acute noninfective otitis externa
- H60.501 Unspecified acute noninfective otitis externa, right ear
- H60.502 Unspecified acute noninfective otitis externa, left ear
- H60.503 Unspecified acute noninfective otitis externa, bilateral
- H60.509 Unspecified acute noninfective otitis externa, unspecified ear
H60.51 Acute actinic otitis externa
- H60.511 Acute actinic otitis externa, right ear
- H60.512 Acute actinic otitis externa, left ear
- H60.513 Acute actinic otitis externa, bilateral
- H60.519 Acute actinic otitis externa, unspecified ear
H60.52 Acute chemical otitis externa
- H60.521 Acute chemical otitis externa, right ear
- H60.522 Acute chemical otitis externa, left ear
- H60.523 Acute chemical otitis externa, bilateral
- H60.529 Acute chemical otitis externa, unspecified ear
H60.53 Acute contact otitis externa
- H60.531 Acute contact otitis externa, right ear
- H60.532 Acute contact otitis externa, left ear
- H60.533 Acute contact otitis externa, bilateral
- H60.539 Acute contact otitis externa, unspecified ear
H60.54 Acute eczematoid otitis externa
- H60.541 Acute eczematoid otitis externa, right ear
- H60.542 Acute eczematoid otitis externa, left ear
- H60.543 Acute eczematoid otitis externa, bilateral
- H60.549 Acute eczematoid otitis externa, unspecified ear
H60.55 Acute reactive otitis externa
- H60.551 Acute reactive otitis externa, right ear
- H60.552 Acute reactive otitis externa, left ear
- H60.553 Acute reactive otitis externa, bilateral
- H60.559 Acute reactive otitis externa, unspecified ear
H60.59 Other noninfective acute otitis externa
- H60.591 Other noninfective acute otitis externa, right ear
- H60.592 Other noninfective acute otitis externa, left ear
- H60.593 Other noninfective acute otitis externa, bilateral
- H60.599 Other noninfective acute otitis externa, unspecified ear
H60.6 Unspecified chronic otitis externa
- H60.60 Unspecified chronic otitis externa, unspecified ear
- H60.61 Unspecified chronic otitis externa, right ear
- H60.62 Unspecified chronic otitis externa, left ear
- H60.63 Unspecified chronic otitis externa, bilateral
H60.8 Other otitis externa
H60.8X Other otitis externa
- H60.8X1 Other otitis externa, right ear
- H60.8X2 Other otitis externa, left ear
- H60.8X3 Other otitis externa, bilateral
- H60.8X9 Other otitis externa, unspecified ear
H60.9 Unspecified otitis externa
- H60.90 Unspecified otitis externa, unspecified ear
- H60.91 Unspecified otitis externa, right ear
- H60.92 Unspecified otitis externa, left ear
- H60.93 Unspecified otitis externa, bilateral
Otitis externa (H60)
Clinical Terms
The following clinical terms provide additional context, helping users better understand the clinical background and common associations for each diagnosis listed in this section. Including related terms alongside ICD-10-CM codes supports coders, billers, and healthcare professionals in improving accuracy, enhancing documentation, and facilitating research or patient education.
Otitis Externa
Inflammation of the OUTER EAR including the external EAR CANAL, cartilages of the auricle (EAR CARTILAGE), and the TYMPANIC MEMBRANE.
