2025 ICD-10-CM code A87
Viral meningitis
Medical necessity for diagnostic testing and treatment of viral meningitis is based on the patient's clinical presentation and the need to rule out more serious conditions, such as bacterial meningitis.Supportive care is medically necessary to alleviate symptoms and prevent complications.
Clinicians should perform a thorough neurological exam, including assessment of mental status, cranial nerves, and meningeal signs.Diagnostic testing may include lumbar puncture for cerebrospinal fluid analysis.Treatment is primarily supportive, focusing on symptom management.
- Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
- Viral and prion infections of the central nervous system (A80-A89)
In simple words: Viral meningitis is an infection that causes inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord.It's usually caused by a virus and can cause symptoms like fever, headache, stiff neck, and sensitivity to light. Most people recover fully within a week or two.
Viral meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, caused by a viral infection.Common symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, light sensitivity, and nausea.The condition typically resolves within 7-10 days with supportive care.
Example 1: A 25-year-old patient presents with fever, headache, stiff neck, and photophobia.Lumbar puncture reveals elevated white blood cells and lymphocytic predominance in the cerebrospinal fluid, consistent with viral meningitis.The patient is managed with supportive care, including pain medication and fluids, and recovers fully within a week., A 5-year-old child develops fever, irritability, and lethargy.The child is diagnosed with viral meningitis based on clinical presentation and CSF findings.The child receives supportive care and recovers without complications., A patient with a weakened immune system develops viral meningitis as a complication of another infection.The patient requires hospitalization for closer monitoring and supportive care.
Documentation should include details of the patient's symptoms, neurological exam findings, and results of diagnostic testing, such as lumbar puncture.The specific virus causing the meningitis, if identified, should also be documented.
** Excludes1: meningitis due to herpesvirus [herpes simplex] (B00.3), meningitis due to measles virus (B05.1), meningitis due to mumps virus (B26.1), meningitis due to poliomyelitis virus (A80.-), meningitis due to zoster (B02.1)
- Specialties:Infectious disease, neurology, pediatrics, internal medicine, family medicine
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, On Campus-Outpatient Hospital, Emergency Room - Hospital, Office,Telehealth Provided in Patient’s Home