ICD-10-CM Codes
J00-J99
J30-J39
J36-
2023 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J36

2023 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J36

Peritonsillar abscess

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Billable/Specific Code

J36 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes.
The 2023 edition of ICD-10-CM J36 became effective on October 1, 2022.
This is the American ICD-10-CM version of J36 - other international versions of ICD-10 J36 may differ.

Use Additional

Use Additional Help

Certain conditions have both an underlying etiology and multiple body system manifestations due to the underlying etiology. For such conditions the ICD-10-CM has a coding convention that requires the underlying condition be sequenced first followed by the manifestation. Wherever such a combination exists there is a "use additional code" note at the etiology code, and a "code first" note at the manifestation code. These instructional notes indicate the proper sequencing order of the codes, etiology followed by manifestation. In most cases the manifestation codes will have in the code title, "in diseases classified elsewhere." Codes with this title are a component of the etiology/manifestation convention. The code title indicates that it is a manifestation code. "In diseases classified elsewhere" codes are never permitted to be used as first listed or principle diagnosis codes. They must be used in conjunction with an underlying condition code and they must be listed following the underlying condition.

code (B95-B97
ICD-10-CM Range B95-B97
Bacterial and viral infectious agents
Note
- These categories are provided for use as supplementary or additional codes to identify the infectious agent(s) in diseases classified elsewhere.
- B95 Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Enter...
- B96 Other bacterial agents as the cause of d...
- B97 Viral agents as the cause of diseases cl...
) to identify infectious agent.

Type 1 Excludes

Type 1 Excludes Help

A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes. It means "not coded here". A type 1 excludes note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as J36. A type 1 excludes note is for used for when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.

acute tonsillitis (
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J03
- J03 Acute tonsillitis
  - J03.0 Streptococcal tonsillitis
    - J03.00 Acute streptococcal tonsillitis, unspecified
    - J03.01 Acute recurrent streptococcal tonsillitis
  - J03.8 Acute tonsillitis due to other specified orga...
    - J03.80 Acute tonsillitis due to other specified orga...
    - J03.81 Acute recurrent tonsillitis due to other spec...
  - J03.9 Acute tonsillitis, unspecified
    - J03.90 Acute tonsillitis, unspecified
    - J03.91 Acute recurrent tonsillitis, unspecified
J03.-
)
chronic tonsillitis (
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J35.0
Chronic tonsillitis and adenoiditis
Type 2 Excludes
- acute tonsillitis (J03.-)
J35.0
)
retropharyngeal abscess (
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J39.0
Retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscess
Applicable To
- Peripharyngeal abscess
Type 1 Excludes
- peritonsillar abscess (J36)
J39.0
)
tonsillitis NOS (
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J03.9
Acute tonsillitis, unspecified
Applicable To
- Follicular tonsillitis (acute)
- Gangrenous tonsillitis (acute)
- Infective tonsillitis (acute)
- Tonsillitis (acute) NOS
- Ulcerative tonsillitis (acute)
Type 1 Excludes
- influenza virus with other respiratory manifestations (J09.X2, J10.1, J11.1)
J03.9-
)

Includes

Includes Help

"Includes" further defines, or give examples of, the content of the code or category.

abscess of tonsil
peritonsillar cellulitis
quinsy

The following code(s) above J36 contain annotation back-references

Annotation Back-References

In this context, annotation back-references refer to codes that contain:

Applicable To annotations, or
Code Also annotations, or
Code First annotations, or
Excludes1 annotations, or
Excludes2 annotations, or
Includes annotations, or
Note annotations, or
Use Additional annotations

that may be applicable to J36:

J00-J99
2023 ICD-10-CM Range J00-J99
Diseases of the respiratory system
Note
- When a respiratory condition is described as occurring in more than one site and is not specifically indexed, it should be classified to the lower anatomic site (e.g. tracheobronchitis to bronchitis in J40).
Type 2 Excludes
- certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
- certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
- complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
- congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
- endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
- injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
- neoplasms (C00-D49)
- smoke inhalation (T59.81-)
- symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)
Use Additional
- code, where applicable, to identify:
- exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)
- exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81)
- history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)
- occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31)
- tobacco dependence (F17.-)
- tobacco use (Z72.0)
Diseases of the respiratory system

Approximate Synonyms

Peritonsillar cellulitis

Clinical Information

An accumulation of purulent material in the area between the palatine tonsil and its capsule.

ICD-10-CM J36 is grouped within Diagnostic Related Group(s) (MS-DRG v40.0):

011 Tracheostomy for face, mouth and neck diagnoses or laryngectomy with mcc
012 Tracheostomy for face, mouth and neck diagnoses or laryngectomy with cc
013 Tracheostomy for face, mouth and neck diagnoses or laryngectomy without cc/mcc
152 Otitis media and uri with mcc
153 Otitis media and uri without mcc

Convert J36 to ICD-9-CM

Code History

2016 (effective 10/1/2015): New code (first year of non-draft ICD-10-CM)
2017 (effective 10/1/2016): No change
2018 (effective 10/1/2017): No change
2019 (effective 10/1/2018): No change
2020 (effective 10/1/2019): No change
2021 (effective 10/1/2020): No change
2022 (effective 10/1/2021): No change
2023 (effective 10/1/2022): No change

Code annotations containing back-references to J36:

Type 1 Excludes: J02
, J03
, J39.0

ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J02
Acute pharyngitis
Includes
- acute sore throat
Type 1 Excludes
- acute laryngopharyngitis (J06.0)
- peritonsillar abscess (J36)
- pharyngeal abscess (J39.1)
- retropharyngeal abscess (J39.0)
Type 2 Excludes
- chronic pharyngitis (J31.2)
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J03
Acute tonsillitis
Type 1 Excludes
- acute sore throat (J02.-)
- hypertrophy of tonsils (J35.1)
- peritonsillar abscess (J36)
- sore throat NOS (J02.9)
- streptococcal sore throat (J02.0)
Type 2 Excludes
- chronic tonsillitis (J35.0)
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J39.0
Retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscess
Applicable To
- Peripharyngeal abscess
Type 1 Excludes
- peritonsillar abscess (J36)
Type 2 Excludes: K12.2

ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K12.2
Cellulitis and abscess of mouth
Applicable To
- Cellulitis of mouth (floor)
- Submandibular abscess
Type 2 Excludes
- abscess of salivary gland (K11.3)
- abscess of tongue (K14.0)
- periapical abscess (K04.6-K04.7)
- periodontal abscess (K05.21)
- peritonsillar abscess (J36)

Diagnosis Index entries containing back-references to J36:

Abscess (connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic) L02.91
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code L02.91
Cutaneous abscess, unspecified
- lingual K14.0
  ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K14.0
  Glossitis
  2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Billable/Specific Code
  Applicable To
  Abscess of tongue
  Ulceration (traumatic) of tongue
  Type 1 Excludes
  atrophic glossitis (K14.4)
  - tonsil J36
- circumtonsillar J36
- intratonsillar J36
- peritonsillar J36
- posttonsillar J36
- tonsil J36(s) (lingual)
- tonsillopharyngeal J36
Angina (attack) (cardiac) (chest) (heart) (pectoris) (syndrome) (vasomotor) I20.9
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code I20.9
Angina pectoris, unspecified
Applicable To
Angina NOS
Anginal syndrome
Cardiac angina
Ischemic chest pain
- phlegmonous J36
- tonsil J36
Cellulitis (diffuse) (phlegmonous) (septic) (suppurative) L03.90
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code L03.90
Cellulitis, unspecified
- peritonsillar J36
- tonsil J36
Cynanche
- tonsillaris J36
Gangrene, gangrenous (connective tissue) (dropsical) (dry) (moist) (skin) (ulcer) I96
- see also Necrosis
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code I96
Gangrene, not elsewhere classified
Applicable To
Gangrenous cellulitis
Type 1 Excludes
gangrene in atherosclerosis of native arteries of the extremities (I70.26)
gangrene in hernia (K40.1, K40.4, K41.1, K41.4, K42.1, K43.1-, K44.1, K45.1, K46.1)
gangrene in other peripheral vascular diseases (I73.-)
gangrene of certain specified sites - see Alphabetical Index
gas gangrene (A48.0)
pyoderma gangrenosum (L88)
Type 2 Excludes
gangrene in diabetes mellitus (E08-E13 with .52)
- quinsy J36
Hemorrhage, hemorrhagic (concealed) R58
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R58
Hemorrhage, not elsewhere classified
Applicable To
Hemorrhage NOS
Type 1 Excludes
hemorrhage included with underlying conditions, such as:
acute duodenal ulcer with hemorrhage (K26.0)
acute gastritis with bleeding (K29.01)
ulcerative enterocolitis with rectal bleeding (K51.01)
- peritonsillar tissue J35.8
  ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J35.8
  Other chronic diseases of tonsils and adenoids
  2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Billable/Specific Code
  Applicable To
  Adenoid vegetations
  Amygdalolith
  Calculus, tonsil
  Cicatrix of tonsil (and adenoid)
  Tonsillar tag
  Ulcer of tonsil
  - due to infection J36
Peritonsillitis J36
Quinsy J36 (gangrenous)

ICD-10-CM Codes Adjacent To J36

J35 Chronic diseases of tonsils and adenoids

J35.0 Chronic tonsillitis and adenoiditis

J35.01 Chronic tonsillitis

J35.02 Chronic adenoiditis

J35.03 Chronic tonsillitis and adenoiditis

J35.1 Hypertrophy of tonsils

J35.2 Hypertrophy of adenoids

J35.3 Hypertrophy of tonsils with hypertrophy of adenoids

J35.8 Other chronic diseases of tonsils and adenoids

J35.9 Chronic disease of tonsils and adenoids, unspecified

J36 Peritonsillar abscess

J37 Chronic laryngitis and laryngotracheitis

J37.0 Chronic laryngitis

J37.1 Chronic laryngotracheitis

J38 Diseases of vocal cords and larynx, not elsewhere classified

J38.0 Paralysis of vocal cords and larynx

J38.00 …… unspecified

J38.01 …… unilateral

J38.02 …… bilateral

J38.1 Polyp of vocal cord and larynx

J38.2 Nodules of vocal cords

Reimbursement claims with a date of service on or after October 1, 2015 require the use of ICD-10-CM codes.

2023 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J36

Peritonsillar abscess

Bacterial and viral infectious agents

Chronic tonsillitis and adenoiditis

Retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscess

Acute tonsillitis, unspecified

Diseases of the respiratory system

Acute pharyngitis

Acute tonsillitis

Retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscess

Cellulitis and abscess of mouth

Cutaneous abscess, unspecified

Glossitis

Angina pectoris, unspecified

Cellulitis, unspecified

Gangrene, not elsewhere classified

Hemorrhage, not elsewhere classified

Other chronic diseases of tonsils and adenoids