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J03

Non-billable

Acute tonsillitis

J03 is the ICD-10-CM code for Acute tonsillitis. It is a non-billable category code — use a more specific child code such as J03.0 for billing.

Status
Header (non-billable)
Chapter
J00-J99
Subcodes
3
Edition
FY2026

J00-J99 Diseases of the respiratory system

Excludes1 — not coded here

  • •acute sore throat (J02.-)
  • •hypertrophy of tonsils (J35.1)
  • •peritonsillar abscess (J36)
  • •sore throat NOS (J02.9)
  • •streptococcal sore throat (J02.0)

Excludes2 — not included here

  • •chronic tonsillitis (J35.0)

Frequently asked questions

What is ICD-10 code J03?
J03 is the ICD-10-CM code for "Acute tonsillitis". It falls under J00-J99 Diseases of the respiratory system.
Is J03 a billable code?
No — J03 is a non-billable header code. Use a more specific child code (such as J03.0) for billing.
What are the subcodes of J03?
J03 has 3 more specific child codes, including J03.0, J03.8, J03.9.
What is excluded from J03?
Excludes1 (not coded here): acute sore throat (J02.-); hypertrophy of tonsils (J35.1); peritonsillar abscess (J36); sore throat NOS (J02.9).

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM FY2026. For informational purposes only — not medical advice. See our medical disclaimer.

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