2025 ICD-10-CM code A35
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Infectious and parasitic diseases - Other bacterial diseases Certain infectious and parasitic diseases Feed
Other tetanus. This code excludes obstetrical tetanus (A34) and tetanus neonatorum (A33).
Medical necessity for the treatment of tetanus is established by the presence of clinical signs and symptoms such as muscle spasms, lockjaw, and difficulty swallowing or breathing. The medical record should document the severity of the infection and the need for medical intervention.
A patient with tetanus can experience pain and spasm of neck muscles, spasm of the jaw muscles (lockjaw or trismus), difficulty swallowing and breathing, muscular stiffness, rigidity, and drooling. Diagnosis is based on symptoms, exposure history, and physical exam, sometimes including a spatula test. Treatment includes hospitalization, wound cleaning, antibiotics, muscle relaxants, and possibly ventilator support. Prevention involves tetanus vaccination.
In simple words: This code is used when someone has tetanus (lockjaw), but it's not related to pregnancy or a newborn baby. Tetanus is a serious infection usually caused by bacteria entering the body through a wound.
Other tetanus.Tetanus NOS. Excludes1: obstetrical tetanus (A34) and tetanus neonatorum (A33)
Example 1: A patient presents with muscle spasms, difficulty swallowing, and a recent puncture wound. After examination and evaluation, the physician diagnoses tetanus not related to pregnancy or birth, thus using code A35., A child steps on a rusty nail and develops muscle stiffness and lockjaw a week later. The doctor determines it is tetanus and uses code A35 because the child is not a newborn., An adult sustains a burn injury and subsequently develops symptoms consistent with tetanus. As the tetanus is not associated with pregnancy or childbirth, the physician codes the condition as A35.
Documentation should include evidence of muscle spasms, difficulty swallowing or breathing, history of a recent injury or wound, and any other relevant clinical findings supporting the diagnosis of tetanus. The documentation should also clearly indicate that the tetanus is not related to pregnancy or the neonatal period.
- Specialties:Infectious Disease, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Emergency Room - Hospital, Office, Outpatient Hospital