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2025 ICD-10-CM code A20.8

Other forms of plague.

Use additional code to identify resistance to antimicrobial drugs (Z16.-).

Medical necessity for treatment of plague is established by the presence of signs and symptoms or laboratory confirmation of Yersinia pestis infection.

Diagnosis and treatment of plague require laboratory confirmation and often involve antibiotic therapy, rehydration, and supportive care. Healthcare professionals should be aware of the different forms of plague and the potential for severe complications.

In simple words: This code is used when someone has a type of plague that is not the usual bubonic, pneumonic, or septicemic kind.It might be a milder form or one that doesn't have the typical symptoms.

This code represents other forms of plague not otherwise classified, such as abortive plague, asymptomatic plague, and pestis minor.

Example 1: A patient presents with mild flu-like symptoms and a history of exposure to rodents in a plague-endemic area. Laboratory tests confirm the presence of Yersinia pestis, but the patient does not develop typical bubonic, pneumonic, or septicemic plague. The diagnosis of abortive plague is made, and the patient is treated with antibiotics., During a plague outbreak, a contact tracing investigation identifies an individual who tests positive for Yersinia pestis antibodies but does not exhibit any clinical symptoms. This individual is considered to have asymptomatic plague and is monitored closely for any signs of illness., A patient presents with mild fever, localized swelling, and discomfort in a lymph node after a suspected flea bite. Laboratory testing confirms Yersinia pestis infection. The patient is diagnosed with pestis minor and treated with antibiotics.

Documentation should include signs, symptoms, laboratory results confirming Yersinia pestis infection, and details about potential exposure to infected animals or fleas.

** This code should not be used for other specified forms of plague that have dedicated codes (e.g., bubonic, pneumonic, septicemic). Refer to iFrameAI for additional information and validation.

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