H66.92 - Otitis media, unspecified, left ear

Clinical Definition

A bacterial infection of the outer ear canal, commonly caused by water exposure or trauma. The infection causes inflammation and swelling of the external auditory canal, leading to pain and potential blockage.

Documentation Requirements

• Laterality (left, right, or bilateral)

• Acuity (acute vs. chronic)

• Specific causative organism if identified (e.g., Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus)

• Associated symptoms:

  • Pain or tenderness

  • Itching

  • Drainage characteristics

• Any contributing factors:

  • Swimming exposure

  • Trauma

  • Device use

• Treatment provided

Common Synonyms

• Swimmer's ear

• External ear infection

• Canal infection

• Water ear

• Beach ear

Coding Conflicts

Excludes1:

• Cellulitis of external ear (H60.1-)

• Necrotizing external otitis (H60.2-)

• Otitis externa "NOS" (H60.9)

Scribing.io Automation

The AI scribe automatically identifies key documentation elements:

• Detects anatomical terms related to external ear canal

• Flags mentions of water exposure or swimming

• Captures symptom descriptions like "pulling on ear" or "ear pain"

• Recognizes bacterial culture results

• Links treatment plans to diagnostic criteria

• Suggests additional documentation if laterality or acuity are missing

Remember: Simply stating "otitis externa" is insufficient - include specific details about location, cause, and symptoms for accurate coding.