Emergency: 119
AMDA-IMIC

J36 Peritonsillar abscess

Billable

Block: Other diseases of upper respiratory tract (J30-J39)

Includes

  • abscess of tonsil
  • peritonsillar cellulitis
  • quinsy

Excludes 1 (cannot be coded together)

  • acute tonsillitis (J03.-)
  • chronic tonsillitis (J35.0)
  • retropharyngeal abscess (J39.0)
  • tonsillitis NOS (J03.9-)

Use Additional Code

  • code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent.
✓
This category is a complete, billable diagnosis code.

No additional specificity is required — submit J36 directly on claims and documentation without a subcode extension.

Last reviewed: September 2026