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J36 ICD-10-CA code: Peritonsillar abscess

J36 is the ICD-10-CA code for “Peritonsillar abscess” in CIHI’s FY 2026–2027 release, in effect from Apr 1, 2026.

Official description

J36

Peritonsillar abscess

ICD-10-CA · Canada

Index terms

Entries in CIHI’s alphabetical index that lead to J36. Searching the index by the condition the note names is how coders reach this code.

  • Peritonsillitis
  • Quinsy (gangrenous)
  • Cellulitis (diffuse) (with lymphangitis), tonsil
  • Cellulitis (diffuse) (with lymphangitis), peritonsillar
  • Hemorrhage, hemorrhagic, peritonsillar tissue, due to infection
  • Abscess (embolic) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pyogenic) (septic), tonsil(s)
  • Abscess (embolic) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pyogenic) (septic), peritonsillar
  • Abscess (embolic) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pyogenic) (septic), intratonsillar
  • Abscess (embolic) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pyogenic) (septic), tonsillopharyngeal

Notes for J36

As CIHI prints them, with any note J36 takes from the headings above it.

Includes

  • Abscess of tonsilperitonsillar cellulitisquinsy

Use additional code

Add a code for this detail when the note documents it.

  • Use additional code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent.

Excludes

Conditions classified elsewhere.

  • Retropharyngeal abscess (J39.0)tonsillitis:• NOS (J03.9)• acute (J03.-)• chronic (J35.0)
  • Certain:• conditions originating in the perinatal period (P00-P96)• infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O99)congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E90)injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T98)neoplasms (C00-D48)symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)From Chapter 10: Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99)

Note

  • When a respiratory condition is described as occurring in more than one site and is not specifically indexed, it should be classified to the lower anatomic site (e.g., tracheobronchitis to bronchitis in J40).From Chapter 10: Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99)

Where J36 sits

  1. 1ChapterChapter 10: Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99)
  2. 2Block J30-J39Other diseases of upper respiratory tract
  3. 3Valid code J36Peritonsillar abscess

Source and release

Data release
ICD-10-CA · FY 2026–2027
Effective date
Apr 1, 2026
Publisher
CIHI

This page is built from the ICD-10-CA catalog that Vero Codes reads when it suggests codes: Canadian Institute for Health Information’s FY 2026–2027 release, imported from the publisher’s file and checked against it. The description, notes and structured data come from the same record.

See J36 in the CIHI source

Frequently asked questions

What does ICD-10-CA code J36 mean?

J36 is the ICD-10-CA code for “Peritonsillar abscess” in CIHI’s ICD-10-CA FY 2026–2027 release.

Where is J36 in ICD-10-CA?

J36 sits under J30-J39 Other diseases of upper respiratory tract, within Chapter 10: Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99).

What coding notes apply to J36?

ICD-10-CA lists Includes, Use additional code, Excludes, Note notes for J36, including those from the headings it sits under. They are listed on this page with where each one comes from.

Which ICD-10-CA release does this page use?

It uses CIHI’s FY 2026–2027 release, in effect from Apr 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027. It is a reference: confirm the code against the current list and the payer’s rules before you submit it.

Codes beside J36

J30Vasomotor and allergic rhinitisJ31Chronic rhinitis, nasopharyngitis and pharyngitisJ32Chronic sinusitisJ33Nasal polypJ34Other disorders of nose and nasal sinusesJ35Chronic diseases of tonsils and adenoidsJ37Chronic laryngitis and laryngotracheitisJ38Diseases of vocal cords and larynx, not elsewhere classifiedJ39Other diseases of upper respiratory tract