2025 ICD-10-CM code A36.1
Effective Date: N/A Certain infectious and parasitic diseases - Other bacterial diseases (A30-A49) 1 Feed
Nasopharyngeal diphtheria.
Medical necessity for treatment of diphtheria is established by the confirmed diagnosis, especially given the potential for serious complications such as myocarditis and nerve damage.
Clinicians diagnose nasopharyngeal diphtheria based on symptoms (sore throat, weakness, fever, swollen neck glands, difficulty breathing and swallowing), exposure history, and physical exam. Microscopic analysis of a throat swab confirms the diagnosis. Treatment involves diphtheria antitoxin and antibiotics. Patient isolation is typically required for 48 hours after starting antibiotics. Clinicians educate patients about the importance of vaccination for prevention (DTaP, Tdap, DT, and Td).
In simple words: Nasopharyngeal diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection in the nose and throat. It causes a thick coating to form, making it hard to breathe and swallow. It can also lead to heart, nerve, and kidney problems.This infection is rare in countries with widespread vaccination.
Nasopharyngeal diphtheria is an acute infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract caused by toxigenic strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae. It is characterized by a grayish-white pseudomembrane that forms in the nose and throat, often extending to the pharynx. This pseudomembrane is composed of dead cells, fibrin, red blood cells, white blood cells, and bacteria. It can cause swelling in the neck (bull neck) due to local edema and swollen lymph nodes.
Example 1: A 5-year-old unvaccinated child presents with a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and a thick gray coating on the tonsils and pharynx.A throat culture confirms Corynebacterium diphtheriae, leading to a diagnosis of nasopharyngeal diphtheria., An adult with incomplete diphtheria vaccination presents with a sore throat, swollen neck, and difficulty breathing. A pseudomembrane is visible on examination, and laboratory testing confirms nasopharyngeal diphtheria., An individual traveling from a region with low diphtheria vaccination rates develops a "bull neck" appearance, fever, and difficulty breathing.Diagnostic tests reveal nasopharyngeal diphtheria.
Documentation should include symptoms (sore throat, difficulty swallowing, fever, etc.), physical exam findings (pseudomembrane, swollen neck), laboratory results confirming C. diphtheriae, and details of treatment (antitoxin, antibiotics).
- Specialties:Infectious Disease, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Otolaryngology
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Emergency Room - Hospital, Office, Public Health Clinic