ICD-10 Code J01.90 – Acute Sinusitis, Unspecified (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J01.90 – Acute sinusitis, unspecified
What it is
J01.90 identifies an acute sinus infection when the affected sinus is not documented. Use it for a short-term inflammatory or infectious process involving the paranasal sinuses.
Clinical signs
Typical findings include nasal congestion, facial pressure, purulent drainage, and reduced sense of smell. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation.
When to use this code
Use this code when the record clearly supports acute sinusitis but does not specify frontal, maxillary, ethmoidal, sphenoidal, or pansinusitis. It is appropriate when the provider documents “acute sinusitis” without further detail. Check documentation if symptoms suggest a different upper respiratory diagnosis.
Do not use for
Do not use J01.90 for chronic sinusitis, recurrent sinusitis, or allergic rhinitis. Do not use it when a specific sinus site or cause is documented and a more precise code is available.
Coding tip
Always code to the most specific sinusitis type documented; use J01.90 only when the site remains unspecified.