A38.0 Scarlet fever with otitis media

The ICD-10-CM code for Scarlet fever with otitis media is A38.0 (FY2026). It is a billable, claim-ready diagnosis code.

Classification

Chapter

1: Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)

Section

A30-A49: Other bacterial diseases (A30-A49)

Category A38

5 codes (4 billable)

FY2026 Status

Stable since FY2024

Also Known As

ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index entries that lead to A38.0:

• Scarlatina (anginosa) (maligna) › otitis media
• Otitis (acute) › media (hemorrhagic) (staphylococcal) (streptococcal) › in (due to) (with) › scarlet fever
• Otitis (acute) › media (hemorrhagic) (staphylococcal) (streptococcal) › acute, subacute › necrotizing › in › scarlet fever

U.S. Hospital Utilization

A38.0 appeared in too few sampled U.S. inpatient stays in 2023 to report a national estimate (AHRQ suppresses counts of 10 or fewer) — a rare inpatient diagnosis.

Source: National Inpatient Sample (NIS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2016–2023. National survey-weighted estimates.

Official Coding Guidelines

HIV Infections (TOC entry)

a. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infections .............................................................. 19

Infectious agents causing diseases in other chapters (TOC)

b. Infectious agents as the cause of diseases classified to other chapters ................................. 22

Source: CMS — ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY2026

References

• CMS — ICD-10-CM Official Code Set and Guidelines, FY2026
• CDC/NCHS — ICD-10-CM Files and Browser Tool
• AHRQ — HCUP National Inpatient Sample, Frequencies by Diagnosis Code (2016–2023)