ICD-10-CM 2027
ICD-10 code for media otitis
From the official ICD-10-CM alphabetic index entry “Otitis (acute) › media (hemorrhagic) (staphylococcal) (streptococcal)”. Page updated September 29, 2026.
About coding media otitis
The ICD-10-CM code for media otitis is H66.9 (Otitis media, unspecified). The official index lists 29 more specific codes, so check the documentation for details such as type, cause, site or severity before settling on H66.9.
Within H66, choose H66.9 (Otitis media, unspecified) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: acute suppurative otitis media (H66.0), chronic tubotympanic suppurative otitis media (H66.1), chronic atticoantral suppurative otitis media (H66.2), other chronic suppurative otitis media (H66.3) and suppurative otitis media, unspecified (H66.4).
To report this condition, pick the subcode that matches the documentation: H66.90 (unspecified ear), H66.91 (right ear), H66.92 (left ear) and H66.93 (bilateral).
Use an additional code for any associated perforated tympanic membrane (H72.-). 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.
More specific media otitis codes (official index)
- 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 media otitis ICD-10 codes
What is the ICD-10 code for media otitis?
- H66.9 — Otitis media, unspecified (a header code; report a more specific subcode). More specific codes apply when the documentation supports them: H66.90, B05.3, A38.0, H66.90 and others below.
What is the ICD-10 code for chronic media otitis?
- H66.90 — Otitis media, unspecified, unspecified ear.
What is the ICD-10 code for nonsuppurative media otitis?
- H65.9 — Unspecified nonsuppurative otitis media (header code; choose a more specific subcode).
What is the ICD-10 code for postmeasles media otitis?
- B05.3 — Measles complicated by otitis media.
What is the ICD-10 code for suppurative media otitis?
- H66.4 — Suppurative otitis media, unspecified (header code; choose a more specific subcode).
What is the ICD-10 code for tuberculous media otitis?
- A18.6 — Tuberculosis of (inner) (middle) ear.
Is H66.9 billable?
- No. H66.9 is a header code. Report one of its more specific subcodes instead.