H67: ICD10 Code for Otitis media in diseases classified elsewhere

H67 refers to Otitis media in diseases classified elsewhere, a group of conditions affecting the middle ear, Eustachian tube, tympanic membrane, and mastoid air cells. These disorders are often linked to infections, structural damage, or systemic disease and can significantly impair hearing and balance.

Symptoms

• Ear pain or pressure – Common in otitis media (H65, H66)
• Hearing loss – Seen in tympanic membrane perforation (H72), cholesteatoma (H71), or Eustachian tube dysfunction (H68–H69)
• Ear discharge (otorrhea) – Indicative of suppurative infections or chronic otitis media (H66)
• Fever and headache – Present in acute mastoiditis (H70)
• Tinnitus or dizziness – May result from inner ear or mastoid complications
• Fullness in the ear – Sign of Eustachian obstruction or middle ear effusion
• Persistent infections or post-surgical issues – Coded under H75 or H67

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Otitis media in diseases classified elsewhere includes otoscopic examination, tympanometry, audiometry, nasopharyngeal endoscopy, and in severe cases, CT imaging of the temporal bones. Culture or swabs may assist in identifying infectious agents in suppurative cases.

ICD10 Code Usage

ICD10 code H67 is widely used in ENT practice, pediatrics, audiology, and general medicine. It assists in documenting middle ear pathology, guiding medical or surgical treatment, hearing aid assessments, or billing for tympanoplasty and mastoidectomy procedures.

Related Codes

• H65 – Nonsuppurative otitis media
• H66 – Suppurative and unspecified otitis media
• H68 – Eustachian salpingitis and obstruction
• H69 – Other and unspecified disorders of Eustachian tube
• H70 – Mastoiditis and related conditions
• H71 – Cholesteatoma of middle ear
• H72 – Perforation of tympanic membrane
• H73 – Other disorders of tympanic membrane
• H74 – Other disorders of middle ear mastoid
• H75 – Other disorders of middle ear and mastoid in diseases classified elsewhere

FAQs

Q1: What is ICD10 code H67?
A: It documents Otitis media in diseases classified elsewhere, covering infections, perforations, dysfunctions, and complications of the middle ear and adjacent structures.

Q2: What is the difference between H65 and H66?
A: H65 includes non-pus-forming (serous) otitis media, while H66 involves purulent or chronic infectious forms.

Q3: Can these conditions cause permanent hearing loss?
A: Yes, especially chronic otitis media, cholesteatoma, or recurrent tympanic membrane damage.

Q4: How are they treated?
A: Treatments range from antibiotics and decongestants to surgical procedures like myringotomy, tube insertion, or mastoidectomy.

Q5: Who treats these conditions?
A: Otolaryngologists (ENT), audiologists, pediatricians, and general practitioners depending on complexity.

Conclusion

ICD10 code H67 provides a critical framework for diagnosing, managing, and tracking outcomes in patients with Otitis media in diseases classified elsewhere, ensuring timely intervention for hearing preservation and infection control.