Acute recurrent tonsillitis, unspecified
ICD-10 J03.91 is a billable code used to indicate a diagnosis of acute recurrent tonsillitis, unspecified.
Acute recurrent tonsillitis is characterized by episodes of inflammation and infection of the tonsils, typically caused by viral or bacterial pathogens, with the most common bacterial agent being Streptococcus pyogenes. Clinically, patients present with sore throat, difficulty swallowing, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. The tonsils, located at the back of the throat, play a role in the immune response, but recurrent infections can lead to chronic inflammation and complications such as peritonsillar abscess. The disease progression often involves multiple episodes within a year, leading to significant morbidity. Diagnostic considerations include a thorough clinical history, physical examination, and potentially throat cultures or rapid antigen tests to identify the causative organism. In cases of recurrent episodes, further evaluation may be warranted to assess for underlying conditions such as allergies or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Treatment typically involves symptomatic management, antibiotics for bacterial infections, and in severe cases, surgical intervention such as tonsillectomy may be considered.
Standard ICD-10-CM documentation requirements apply
Various clinical presentations within this specialty area
Follow specialty-specific billing guidelines
Standard ICD-10-CM documentation requirements apply
Various clinical presentations within this specialty area
Follow specialty-specific billing guidelines
J03.91 covers recurrent episodes of acute tonsillitis that do not have a specified underlying cause. It includes cases where patients experience multiple infections within a year, necessitating careful documentation of each episode.
J03.91 should be used when the patient has a documented history of recurrent acute tonsillitis episodes. If the condition is chronic or has other specified causes, different codes such as J03.90 or J35.0 may be more appropriate.
Documentation should include a detailed clinical history of recurrent episodes, results of any diagnostic tests performed, treatment plans, and responses to treatment. Each episode should be clearly documented to support the recurrent nature of the diagnosis.
