2025 ICD-10-CM code R56.0
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Deletion Date: N/A Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings - Febrile convulsions Chapter 18: Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99) Feed
Febrile convulsions represent seizures occurring in association with fever.
Medical necessity for evaluation and management of febrile convulsions is justified by the potential for significant neurological injury, the need for ruling out underlying serious infections (e.g., meningitis, encephalitis), and the need for reassurance and education for caregivers.
The clinical responsibility for a patient with febrile convulsions involves prompt assessment to ensure airway patency and prevent further injury. This includes monitoring vital signs, managing fever, and assessing neurological status. Further evaluation may be necessary to rule out underlying conditions like meningitis or encephalitis.
- Chapter 18: Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)
- General symptoms and signs (R50-R69)
In simple words: This code means the person had a seizure caused by a fever.It's used when a doctor isn't sure about the exact kind of seizure.
R56.0, Febrile convulsions, in the ICD-10-CM classification, denotes seizures triggered by a fever.This code encompasses various seizure types associated with febrile illnesses.The specific type of seizure may not always be definitively determined during the initial encounter.Further investigation may be needed to differentiate between febrile seizures and other seizure types. This diagnosis should be used cautiously; if a specific etiology is identifiable, a more precise code from a different chapter should be used.
Example 1: A 2-year-old child presents to the emergency department with a high fever and generalized tonic-clonic seizure lasting approximately 3 minutes.The child is afebrile after antipyretic administration, with no neurological deficits noted on exam. R56.0 is assigned., A 18-month-old infant presents with a fever of 102°F and brief, focal seizure activity involving one arm. After antipyretics, the child's fever resolves and there are no lingering neurological problems. This is coded as R56.0., A 5-year-old with a known history of febrile seizures experiences a generalized convulsion while battling a respiratory infection.The episode resolves without incident, and the child returns to baseline neurologic function. This case is coded as R56.0.
Detailed history and physical examination including the presence of fever, description of seizure activity (type, duration, location, associated symptoms), neurological examination findings after the seizure, and results of any investigations such as a complete blood count, lumbar puncture (if meningitis is suspected), or electroencephalogram (EEG).
** This code should not be used for neonatal seizures (P90.-).The use of this code requires careful clinical judgment to distinguish febrile seizures from other seizure types.Appropriate documentation is crucial for accurate coding.
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Pediatrics, Neurology, Emergency Medicine
- Place of Service:Emergency Room - Hospital, Office, Inpatient Hospital