ICD-10 Code J01.10 – Acute Frontal Sinusitis, Unspecified (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J01.10 – Acute frontal sinusitis, unspecified
What it is
J01.10 identifies an acute infection and inflammation of the frontal sinus when the provider does not document the causative organism. Use it for a new, short-term sinusitis episode involving the forehead sinus area.
Clinical signs
Typical findings include frontal headache or pressure, nasal congestion, purulent drainage, and tenderness over the frontal sinus. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation for the exact presentation.
When to use this code
Use this code when the record states acute frontal sinusitis but does not name a specific organism. It is appropriate when the clinician documents the frontal sinus as the affected site and the episode is acute. Check documentation if laterality or chronicity is unclear.
Do not use for
Do not use J01.10 for chronic sinusitis, recurrent sinusitis, or sinusitis affecting a different sinus site. If the provider documents a specific organism or another sinus location, code the documented diagnosis instead.
Coding tip
Confirm both the acute nature and frontal sinus site in the note before assigning J01.10.