ICD-10 Code for Acute Bacterial Sinusitis
The ICD-10 code for acute bacterial sinusitis is J01, with specific subcategories based on the anatomical location of the infection 1.
Specific ICD-10 Code Categories
The J01 code series includes the following subcategories for acute bacterial sinusitis:
- J01.0: Acute maxillary sinusitis (most commonly diagnosed) 1
- J01.1: Acute frontal sinusitis 1
- J01.2: Acute ethmoidal sinusitis 1
- J01.3: Acute sphenoidal sinusitis 1
- J01.4: Acute pansinusitis (involvement of multiple sinuses) 1
- J01.8: Other acute sinusitis (involvement of more than one sinus but not pansinusitis) 1
- J01.9: Acute sinusitis, unspecified (when the specific sinus location is not documented) 1
Clinical Context for Proper Coding
The diagnosis of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis requires one of three specific clinical presentations to distinguish it from viral rhinosinusitis, which is critical for appropriate coding 2, 3:
- Persistent symptoms lasting ≥10 days without improvement (nasal discharge, congestion, facial pain/pressure, or cough) 2, 3
- Severe onset with high fever ≥39°C (102°F) AND purulent nasal discharge for at least 3-4 consecutive days 2, 3
- "Double-sickening" pattern: initial viral URI symptoms that improve for 5-6 days, then worsen with new fever, headache, or increased nasal discharge 2, 3
Common Coding Pitfalls
Do not use the J01 code for viral rhinosinusitis or uncomplicated upper respiratory infections, as these conditions have different ICD-10 codes and do not warrant the bacterial sinusitis diagnosis 2. The diagnosis should be based on clinical criteria, not imaging findings alone, as sinus opacification occurs in 68% of children with viral URI and 42% of healthy children 2.
J01.9 (unspecified) should only be used when documentation does not specify which sinus is involved, though maxillary sinusitis (J01.0) is the most common presentation in clinical practice 1.