N76.0 - Acute vaginitis

Clinical Definition

Chronic sinusitis is persistent inflammation or infection of the paranasal sinuses lasting 12 weeks or longer, characterized by mucosal changes and symptoms including nasal congestion, drainage, facial pressure/pain, and reduced sense of smell.

Documentation Requirements

• Duration must be specified as "chronic" (≥12 weeks)

• Location(s) must be documented:

  • Maxillary

  • Frontal

  • Ethmoidal

  • Sphenoidal

  • Pansinusitis (all sinuses)

• Type of sinusitis:

  • With or without nasal polyps

  • With or without acute exacerbation

• Laterality (when applicable):

  • Right

  • Left

  • Bilateral

Common Synonyms

• Long-term sinus infection

• Ongoing sinus problems

• Chronic sinus congestion

• Persistent sinusitis

• Recurrent sinus infection

Coding Conflicts

• Excludes1:

  • Acute recurrent sinusitis

  • Acute sinusitis

• Excludes2:

  • Allergic rhinitis

  • Upper respiratory infection (URI)

Scribing.io Automation

The AI scribe automatically identifies and captures:

• Temporal markers indicating chronicity (e.g., "ongoing for 3 months," "persistent since [date]")

• Anatomical descriptors of affected sinuses

• Presence/absence of polyps mentioned in exam findings

• Modifying terms like "chronic," "persistent," or "recurrent"

• Associated symptoms for clinical validation

Note: For optimal coding accuracy, always include duration, specific location(s), and any complications in your documentation.