J03.81 Acute recurrent tonsillitis due to other specified organisms

Billable ICD-10-CM code, FY2026.

Applies from J03 Acute tonsillitis

Excludes1 (never code together)

• 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)

Applies from J03.8 Acute tonsillitis due to other specified organisms

Excludes1 (never code together)

• diphtheritic tonsillitis (A36.0)
• herpesviral pharyngotonsillitis (B00.2)
• streptococcal tonsillitis (J03.0)
• tuberculous tonsillitis (A15.8)
• Vincent's tonsillitis (A69.1)

Use additional code

• code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent.

MS-DRG index

Defines the logic of DRG(s) 011-013 in MDC PRE.

Approximate ICD-9-CM (GEMs)

• 463 Acute tonsillitis (approximate)

Code annotations containing back-references to J03.81

Back-references to J03

• Code Also: D81.82 Activated Phosphoinositide 3-kinase Delta Syndrome [APDS] ("other acute respiratory tract infections (J00-J06; J20-J22)")
• Type 2 Excludes: J35.0 Chronic tonsillitis and adenoiditis ("acute tonsillitis (J03.-)")
• Type 1 Excludes: J36 Peritonsillar abscess ("acute tonsillitis (J03.-)")

Diagnosis Index entries for J03.81

• Adenoiditis (chronic) › acute › specified organism NEC › recurrent
• Adenoiditis (chronic) › acute › staphylococcal › recurrent
• Tonsillitis (acute) (catarrhal) (croupous) (follicular) (gangrenous) (infective) (lacunar) (lingual) (malignant) (membranous) (parenchymatous) (phlegmonous) (pseudomembranous) (purulent) (septic) (subacute) (suppurative) (toxic) (ulcerative) (vesicular) (viral) › specified organism NEC › recurrent
• Tonsillitis (acute) (catarrhal) (croupous) (follicular) (gangrenous) (infective) (lacunar) (lingual) (malignant) (membranous) (parenchymatous) (phlegmonous) (pseudomembranous) (purulent) (septic) (subacute) (suppurative) (toxic) (ulcerative) (vesicular) (viral) › staphylococcal › recurrent

Nearby codes

• J03.0 Streptococcal tonsillitis
• J03.00 Acute streptococcal tonsillitis, unspecified
• J03.01 Acute recurrent streptococcal tonsillitis
• J03.8 Acute tonsillitis due to other specified organisms
• J03.80 Acute tonsillitis due to other specified organisms
• J03.81 Acute recurrent tonsillitis due to other specified organisms (this code)
• J03.9 Acute tonsillitis, unspecified
• J03.90 Acute tonsillitis, unspecified
• J03.91 Acute recurrent tonsillitis, unspecified