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ICD-10-CM J03.8: Acute tonsillitis due to other specified organisms
ICD-10-CM code J03.8 represents acute tonsillitis due to other specified organisms. Acute tonsillitis is a clinical diagnosis that may occur at any age, with an incidence peak in school-age children. The clinical course of an acute episode is self-limiting. This reference summarizes public-source excerpts and does not guarantee payer coverage or provide personal medical advice. 1 2 3
Plain-language overview
Acute tonsillitis is a clinical diagnosis that may occur at any age, with an incidence peak observed in children of school age. The clinical course of an acute episode, with or without a proven group A β-hemolytic streptococci infection, is self-limiting. 1
What this code represents
In the ICD10CM system, code J03.8 has the descriptor "Acute tonsillitis due to other specified organisms." The EVS Explore source also lists J03.80 alongside J03.8 for this same concept and label. 2 3
Coding details
The ICD10CM code J03.8 is documented in the VSAC Browse Code Systems source with a code system version of 2020. The EVS Explore source lists the code J03.80 in addition to J03.8 for the concept of acute tonsillitis due to other specified organisms. 2 3
Documentation considerations
Acute tonsillitis is established as a clinical diagnosis in the clinical practice guideline. The guideline states that routinely performed blood tests for acute tonsillitis are not indicated. 1
After acute streptococcal tonsillitis, the clinical practice guideline indicates there is no need to repeat a pharyngeal swab or any other routine blood tests, urine examinations, or cardiological diagnostics such as an ECG. 1
The clinical practice guideline states that the determination of the antistreptolysin O-titer and other antistreptococcal antibody titers do not have any value in relation to acute tonsillitis with or without pharyngitis and should not be performed. 1
What the sources add
The clinical practice guideline provides diagnostic context for acute tonsillitis, while the VSAC and EVS Explore sources provide the formal ICD10CM code descriptor and code system version. These sources together establish clinical and coding dimensions for the concept. 1 2 3
The clinical practice guideline notes that disease transmission for group A β-hemolytic streptococci tonsillitis generally occurs via droplet infection transmitted by other patients with acute infections, and very rarely by asymptomatic carriers. 1
Questions to verify
The supplied sources do not establish which specific organisms, other than group A β-hemolytic streptococci, are applicable to the J03.8 code. Verification is needed regarding the exact organisms that qualify as "other specified organisms" under this diagnosis. 1 2 3
Sources
- Clinical practice guideline: tonsillitis I. Diagnostics and nonsurgical management — pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-25.
- EVS Explore — evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov; accessed 2026-07-25.
- Browse Code Systems — vsac.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-25.
J03.8 policy automation walkthrough
Walk through the policies, prior authorization requirements, and workflow automation opportunities connected to this code.