In simple words: This code represents infections or parasite-related illnesses that a baby is born with or gets shortly after birth, other than a few specific conditions.

This code encompasses infectious and parasitic diseases contracted by a newborn before, during, or shortly after birth (within the first 28 days), excluding conditions like congenital syphilis, neonatal diarrhea (infectious or non-infectious), necrotizing enterocolitis, ophthalmia neonatorum due to gonococcus, and tetanus neonatorum.

Example 1: A newborn presents with signs of congenital toxoplasmosis, confirmed through laboratory tests.The infection was acquired in utero from the mother., A baby develops symptoms of congenital malaria within the first few weeks of life, confirmed by blood smear and other diagnostic tests., An infant exhibits signs of congenital Chagas disease, acquired through transmission from the mother during pregnancy or childbirth.

Documentation should include evidence of the infection in the newborn, such as laboratory test results, imaging findings, and physical examination findings. Details about the mother's medical history and possible exposure to infectious agents during pregnancy should also be noted. Information about onset and severity of symptoms in the newborn is crucial.

** For accurate coding, it's important to identify the specific infectious agent whenever possible and use a more specific code if available. If the specific pathogen is unknown, a code under P37.9 (Congenital infectious and parasitic disease, unspecified) may be appropriate. It's important to check current ICD-10-CM coding guidelines.