J03 – Acute tonsillitis
ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code · Acute upper respiratory infections
ICD-10-CM code
J03
- Code
J03(claims format:J03)- Description
- Acute tonsillitis
- Billable
- No – use a more specific code below
- Valid for
- Dates of service October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 (FY2027)
- Chapter
- 10. Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99)
- Block
- J00-J06 Acute upper respiratory infections
Billable codes under J03
J03 is a header code and cannot be used on claims. Choose the most specific code:
- J03.0 – Streptococcal tonsillitisHeader (more codes below)
- J03.8 – Acute tonsillitis due to other specified organismsHeader (more codes below)
- J03.9 – Acute tonsillitis, unspecifiedHeader (more codes below)
Notes for J03
Excludes1 (not coded here):
Excludes2 (not included here):
- chronic tonsillitis (J35.0)
Notes inherited from parent codes
Instructional notes at a category or block level apply to every code below it.
Block J00-J06
Excludes1 (not coded here):
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with acute lower respiratory infection (J44.0)
Frequently asked questions
What is ICD-10 code J03?
J03 is the ICD-10-CM code for acute tonsillitis, in the block J00-J06 (Acute upper respiratory infections).
Is J03 a billable code?
No. J03 is a header code with more specific child codes; report one of the billable codes listed above.
Source: CDC/NCHS ICD-10-CM FY2027 code files, tabular list and index. Reference only – code assignment must follow the official ICD-10-CM guidelines and documentation in the medical record.