2025 ICD-10-CM code A03.8
(Valid) Effective Date: N/A Certain infectious and parasitic diseases - Intestinal infectious diseases 1 Feed
Other shigellosis.
Medical necessity for using A03.8 is established by the presence of clinical symptoms suggestive of shigellosis and positive laboratory confirmation of Shigella infection where further subtyping isn't available or necessary for immediate treatment decisions.
Diagnosis and treatment of shigellosis. This includes taking patient history, conducting physical exams, ordering and interpreting lab tests (stool culture), providing rehydration therapy (oral or intravenous), and prescribing antibiotics when necessary. Patient education on preventing transmission is also crucial.
In simple words: Shigellosis is an infection of the digestive system caused by the shigella bacteria, usually found in contaminated food or water. This code is used when the specific type of shigellosis isn't covered by other codes.Symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever. Severe cases can lead to dehydration and seizures, especially in children. Diagnosis involves testing stool samples. Treatment usually involves rehydration, and sometimes antibiotics in severe cases.
The bacterium shigella, typically ingested with water and food contaminated by feces, causes shigellosis, an infection that affects the gastrointestinal system. The provider identifies a type of Shigellosis not represented by another code in this category.A patient with shigellosis can experience diarrhea, stomach pain, and fever; in severe cases, the patient may become extremely dehydrated, and children may develop seizures. Laboratory tests of the patient’s feces can detect the shigella bacterium, and culture and sensitivity can identify the most effective antibiotic(s). Treatment includes rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids and, in severe cases, antibiotics; less severe cases generally resolve without antibiotics. No vaccines are available for shigellosis.
Example 1: A 25-year-old male presents with acute diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever after returning from a trip abroad. Stool culture confirms Shigella infection, but the specific type isn't identified, so A03.8 is used., A 5-year-old child is brought to the ER with severe dehydration and bloody diarrhea.Shigella is identified in the stool sample, but further typing isn't possible due to the critical condition. A03.8 is coded along with the code for dehydration., An elderly patient in a nursing home develops diarrhea and low-grade fever. The stool sample reveals Shigella infection without specific typing. A03.8 applies in this instance.
Symptoms (diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever), travel history, laboratory results confirming Shigella infection (stool culture and sensitivity), treatment provided (rehydration, antibiotics).
- Specialties:Infectious Disease, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Pediatrics, Gastroenterology
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Emergency Room - Hospital, Office, Outpatient Hospital, Telehealth Provided in Patient’s Home, Telehealth Provided Other than in Patient’s Home