ICD-10-CM H60: Otitis externa

ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code (2025)

Official Description for H60

Otitis externa

Coding Notes & Guidelines for H60

Excludes2: Not Included Here
  • cholesteatoma of middle ear (H71.-)
  • recurrent cholesteatoma of postmastoidectomy cavity (H95.0-)
Inclusion Terms
  • Boil of external ear
  • Carbuncle of auricle or external auditory canal
  • Furuncle of external ear
Inclusion Terms
  • Cellulitis of auricle
  • Cellulitis of external auditory canal
Inclusion Terms

Keratosis obturans of external ear (canal)

Inclusion Terms

Acute otitis externa NOS

Child Codes (More Specific Codes for H60):

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

About ICD-10-CM Code H60 (Otitis externa)

ICD-10-CM code H60 is a billable or specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. The 2025 edition of ICD-10-CM H60 became effective on October 1, 2024.

This page provides detailed information about H60 - Otitis externa. It includes common terminology, coding guidelines such as "Includes," "Excludes1," and "Excludes2" notes, and information on required 7th characters. Utilizing this information correctly is essential for accurate medical coding and claims submission for conditions like Otitis externa.