R10.12 - Left upper quadrant pain

Clinical Definition

Unilateral labyrinthitis is an inflammatory condition affecting the inner ear labyrinth, typically triggered by a viral infection or bacterial invasion. It causes vertigo, hearing changes, and balance issues on one side only.

Documentation Requirements

• Laterality: Must specify right or left ear

• Acuity: Document if acute, chronic, or recurrent

• Cause: Viral vs. bacterial etiology if known

• Associated symptoms: Document presence of:

  • Vertigo

  • Nausea

  • Hearing loss

  • Tinnitus

• Testing results: Include findings from:

  • Audiometry

  • Balance testing

  • Head impulse test results

Common Synonyms

• Vestibular neuritis

• Inner ear infection

• Vestibular neuronitis

• "Room spinning" sensation

• Inner ear inflammation

Coding Conflicts

Excludes1:

• Otitis media (H65-H67)

• Vestibular neuronitis (H49.91)
  Excludes2:

• Ménière's disease (H81.0-)

• Labyrinthitis due to syphilis (A52.79)

Scribing.io Automation

The AI scribe automatically identifies key terms like "labyrinthitis," "inner ear inflammation," and "vertigo" in the clinical narrative. It maps laterality markers ("right" or "left") and captures causative factors when mentioned. The system distinguishes between viral and bacterial descriptions and flags associated symptoms for accurate code assignment.