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ICD10

ICD-10 Code H65.0: Acute serous otitis media

H65.0 is an ICD-10 diagnosis entry used to group records related to Acute serous otitis media. You may see this entry in coding references, medical records, or claims workflows when a broader diagnosis category is being reviewed before a more specific code is chosen. ICD-10 entries help standardize how diagnoses are organized for coding, reporting, analytics, and documentation. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Diseases of the ear and mastoid process (H60-H95).

What is this code?

ICD-10 entries help standardize how diagnoses are organized for coding, reporting, analytics, and documentation. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Diseases of the ear and mastoid process (H60-H95).

When is it used?

  • May be used when a clinician documents acute serous otitis media in a patient's medical record.
  • May appear in hospital records, claims, referrals, and clinical documentation.
  • This code may act more like a grouping or parent code, so a more specific child code may be used in final documentation when available.

What it does not mean

  • A code alone does not explain severity, treatment plan, or outcome.
  • A medical code should not be treated as a substitute for a doctor's diagnosis or advice.
  • This entry may represent a broader category rather than the most specific billable code.

Code hierarchy

chapter
8Diseases of the ear and mastoid process (H60-H95)
block
H65-H75Diseases of middle ear and mastoid
category
H65Nonsuppurative otitis media
currentH65

Official coding notes

Inclusion terms
  • Acute and subacute secretory otitis

Where you may see this code

You may see this entry in coding references, medical records, or claims workflows when a broader diagnosis category is being reviewed before a more specific code is chosen.

Related specialists

ENT Specialist

Coding guidelines

Compatibility

Legacy code aligns to an official FY 2026 category. Frontend should resolve to the official category page and surface the billable child codes.
Legacy codes
H65.0
Replacement codes
H65.00 — Acute serous otitis media, unspecified earH65.01 — Acute serous otitis media, right earH65.02 — Acute serous otitis media, left earH65.03 — Acute serous otitis media, bilateralH65.04 — Acute serous otitis media, recurrent, right earH65.05 — Acute serous otitis media, recurrent, left earH65.06 — Acute serous otitis media, recurrent, bilateralH65.07 — Acute serous otitis media, recurrent, unspecified ear

Common synonyms

Acute serous otitis media

Frequently asked questions

Code details

CodeH65.0
SystemICD10
Display nameAcute serous otitis media
ChapterDiseases of the ear and mastoid process (H60-H95)
BlockDiseases of middle ear and mastoid

Flags

BillableNo
Valid clinical useNo

Source

SourceICD-10
Version2026-annual
Releaseannual
Year2026

About this content

This page is prepared by HealthAssure's clinical team using official coding standards from ICD-10. AI tools assist with drafting explanations, which are then reviewed and verified by healthcare professionals for accuracy. This content is for informational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice. Meet our team.