H65.491 Other chronic nonsuppurative otitis media, right ear

ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H65.491: Other chronic nonsuppurative otitis media, right ear

ICD-10-CM code H65.491 identifies a diagnosis of other chronic nonsuppurative otitis media localized to the right ear. It is a billable, specific diagnosis classified under diseases of the middle ear and mastoid. This code represents a disease or syndrome concept and does not list additional coding instructions in the referenced data. 1 4

Plain-language overview

Code H65.491 designates a disease or syndrome concept for other chronic nonsuppurative otitis media localized specifically to the right ear, providing a standardized diagnostic label for clinical and coding use. 1 3

What this code represents

The diagnosis H65.491 represents other chronic nonsuppurative otitis media of the right ear and exists as an active terminology record within the ICD-10-CM version 2026 classification system. 1

Code H65.491 is categorized under the parent concept H65.49 for other chronic nonsuppurative otitis media, and the terminology record indicates this code has narrower concepts within the referenced system. 1

Coding details

Within the ICD-10-CM hierarchy, H65.491 falls under Chapter 8 for ear and mastoid diseases, category H65 for nonsuppurative otitis media, and subcategory H65.49 for other chronic nonsuppurative otitis media. 4

In the April 2026 reference data, H65.491 is presented as a billable and specific code, and the reference record lists no inclusion terms, code first instructions, or use additional code instructions for this diagnosis. 4

The broader coding tree distinguishes H65.491 for the right ear from adjacent codes like H65.492 for the left ear, H65.493 for bilateral, and H65.499 for unspecified ear presentations. 5

Documentation considerations

The April 2026 reference data for H65.491 lists no inclusion terms, no code first instructions, and no use additional code instructions, which informs the primary documentation elements mapped directly to this specific diagnosis. 4

What the sources add

While H65.491 denotes a nonsuppurative condition, clinical literature describes chronic suppurative otitis media as a persistent middle ear infection with otorrhea and hearing loss, highlighting a distinct diagnostic contrast. 2 4

Coverage and utilization context

Code H65.491 appears in a clinical reference list of right otitis media diagnosis codes alongside acute, recurrent, and chronic allergic variations of the condition. 6

Sources

1. ICD-10-CM H65.491 terminology record — National Cancer Institute Enterprise Vocabulary Services; accessed 2026-07-27.
2. Bookshelf — ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
3. EVS Explore — evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
4. ICD-10-CM Code H65.491 | Vero — veroscribe.com; accessed 2026-07-27.
5. ICD-10-CM 2024 | H65 - Nonsuppurative otitis media — unboundmedicine.com; accessed 2026-07-27.
6. Right Otitis Media ICD-10-CM Codes | 2025 — carepatron.com; accessed 2026-07-27.