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H73.0 – Acute Myringitis: Causes & Treatment

H73.0 is the ICD-10 code for acute myringitis, an inflammation of the eardrum. It often occurs alongside middle ear infection and causes ear pain.

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Things worth knowing about "H73.0"

H73.0 is the ICD-10 code for acute myringitis, an inflammation of the eardrum. It often occurs alongside middle ear infection and causes ear pain.

What is H73.0?

The ICD-10 code H73.0 refers to acute myringitis, which is an acute inflammation of the tympanic membrane (eardrum). The eardrum is a thin, sensitive membrane that separates the outer ear canal from the middle ear. In myringitis, the eardrum itself is inflamed. This condition must be distinguished from otitis media (middle ear infection), although both frequently occur together.

Causes

Acute myringitis is most commonly triggered by infections. The main causes include:

Bacterial infections: Frequently caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, or Moraxella catarrhalis.
Viral infections: Viruses such as the influenza virus or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can also cause myringitis.
Bullous myringitis: A specific form in which fluid-filled blisters (bullae) develop on the eardrum, often associated with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.
Spread from adjacent areas: Inflammation may spread from the outer ear canal or middle ear to the eardrum.

Symptoms

Typical symptoms of acute myringitis include:

Severe ear pain (otalgia), which may begin suddenly
Reduced hearing or a sensation of pressure in the ear
Blister formation on the eardrum (in bullous myringitis)
Mild ear discharge if the eardrum has perforated
General symptoms of illness such as fever, especially in children

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of acute myringitis is primarily made through otoscopy – the direct examination of the eardrum using an otoscope. The physician may observe redness, swelling, or blistering of the eardrum. Additional investigations may include:

Tympanometry: Measurement of eardrum mobility to assess possible middle ear involvement
Audiometry: Hearing test in cases of persistent hearing loss
Swab culture: Collection of a sample from any discharge to identify the causative organism

Treatment

Treatment of acute myringitis depends on the underlying cause:

Antibiotics: Prescribed when a bacterial infection is confirmed or likely; amoxicillin is commonly the first-line choice
Antiviral medications: Used in selected cases with a confirmed viral cause
Pain relief: Analgesics such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve ear pain
Ear drops: Local treatment with anti-inflammatory or antibiotic ear drops may be used as supportive therapy
Spontaneous recovery: Mild cases of viral myringitis may resolve without specific treatment

With timely and appropriate treatment, acute myringitis typically resolves completely. Complications such as chronic otitis media or permanent hearing loss are rare but possible if the condition is left untreated.

References

World Health Organization (WHO): International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10), H73.0 – Acute Myringitis.
Bhatt JM. Otitis Media and Myringitis. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
Rosenfeld RM et al. Clinical Practice Guideline: Acute Otitis Externa. Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. 2014;150(1 Suppl):S1-S24.

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