In simple words: Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection. This code is used when a person has whooping cough caused by a less common type of Bordetella bacteria and also develops pneumonia, a lung infection.

This code describes a patient diagnosed with whooping cough (pertussis) caused by a Bordetella species other than Bordetella pertussis or Bordetella parapertussis, and the patient also has pneumonia as a complication.

Example 1: A 3-year-old child presents with severe coughing spells followed by a "whooping" sound during inhalation. A chest X-ray reveals pneumonia, and lab tests confirm infection with Bordetella bronchiseptica. Code A37.81 is assigned., An adult patient with a history of COPD develops a persistent cough and difficulty breathing. After testing, they are diagnosed with pneumonia and whooping cough caused by Bordetella holmesii. Code A37.81 is assigned., An infant presents with apnea and a cough that doesn't include the characteristic "whoop." Further testing reveals pneumonia and Bordetella parapertussis. Because the bacterium is not a species “other than” pertussis or parapertussis, this code does not apply.

Documentation should include: signs and symptoms, such as coughing, whooping sounds, difficulty breathing, fever, and sputum production; laboratory results confirming the Bordetella species (other than pertussis or parapertussis); and imaging studies (e.g., chest X-ray) showing evidence of pneumonia.

** For accurate coding and billing, always distinguish the infecting Bordetella species. Refer to iFrameAI for most up-to-date information.