2025 ICD-10-CM code B40
(Valid) Effective Date: N/A Certain infectious and parasitic diseases - Mycoses 1 Feed
Blastomycosis
Medical necessity for treatment of blastomycosis is established by confirming the diagnosis through laboratory testing and/or biopsy, documenting the severity of the infection (pulmonary vs. disseminated, mild vs. severe), and outlining the treatment plan based on established guidelines.
Physicians diagnose blastomycosis based on patient history, physical exam, and lab tests like sputum culture, blood tests for antibodies, and biopsy. Imaging studies, such as chest X-rays and CT scans, are used to assess the extent of lung involvement. Treatment typically involves antifungal medications like itraconazole or amphotericin B, with the duration of treatment varying depending on the severity and location of the infection.
In simple words: Blastomycosis is a lung infection caused by a fungus found in dirt and decaying plants. You get it by breathing in the fungal spores.It can cause flu-like symptoms and sometimes skin sores. If it spreads through the body it can be serious, especially for people with weakened immune systems.
Blastomycosis is a fungal infection caused by inhaling the spores of the fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis, commonly found in moist soil and decaying organic matter. It primarily affects the lungs, causing symptoms like cough, fever, chest pain, and fatigue, but can spread to other organs such as skin, bones, and the central nervous system in severe cases, especially in immunocompromised individuals.
Example 1: A patient presents with a cough, fever, chest pain, and fatigue after a recent camping trip in the Midwest. A chest X-ray reveals lung infiltrates, and a sputum culture confirms the diagnosis of blastomycosis. The patient is treated with itraconazole for six months., An immunocompromised patient develops skin lesions, bone pain, and neurological symptoms. Biopsy of a skin lesion shows the presence of Blastomyces dermatitidis. The patient is treated with amphotericin B followed by long-term itraconazole., A dog owner develops respiratory symptoms and skin lesions. Their dog has also been diagnosed with blastomycosis. The owner’s tests confirm blastomycosis, suggesting a shared source of infection.
Documentation for blastomycosis should include: patient history (including exposure to endemic areas and activities like gardening or digging), physical exam findings (pulmonary and extrapulmonary signs), laboratory results (sputum culture, blood tests, biopsy), imaging reports (chest X-ray, CT scan), diagnosis, and treatment plan.
- Specialties:Infectious Disease, Pulmonary Medicine, Dermatology
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Office, Outpatient Hospital