2025 ICD-10-CM code T61

Toxic effect of noxious substances eaten as seafood.

Follow official ICD-10-CM coding guidelines.Use additional codes to specify the type of seafood involved and the intent (accidental, intentional self-harm, assault, or undetermined). If the intent is unknown document "undetermined" only if there is specific documentation in the record that the intent cannot be determined. Use additional code(s) for all associated manifestations.

Modifiers are not applicable to ICD-10-CM codes.

Medical necessity is established by the presence of symptoms consistent with seafood poisoning, confirmed through history, physical examination, and laboratory testing.The severity and complexity of the symptoms should justify the level of care provided.

The clinical responsibility involves diagnosing and treating the patient's symptoms related to the seafood poisoning.This might include managing symptoms like nausea, vomiting, neurological issues, or cardiovascular problems, depending on the type of toxin involved.Further investigations may involve laboratory tests or consultations with specialists.

IMPORTANT Additional codes may be necessary to specify the type of seafood (e.g., ciguatera fish poisoning) and the intent of the poisoning (accidental, self-harm, assault, undetermined).Consider using codes from Chapter 20 (External causes of morbidity) to indicate the cause of the poisoning.Codes for associated manifestations (e.g., respiratory conditions) should also be used.

In simple words: This code is used when someone gets sick from eating poisonous seafood.It doesn't include allergies or bacterial infections from food.

This code captures the toxic effects resulting from consuming harmful substances present in seafood.It encompasses various types of seafood poisoning, excluding allergic reactions or bacterial intoxications.Further specification may be needed using additional codes to specify the type of seafood and intent (accidental, intentional self-harm, assault, or undetermined).

Example 1: A patient presents with gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) and neurological symptoms (weakness, paresthesia) after consuming a meal containing red snapper.The diagnosis of ciguatera fish poisoning (T61.0) is made.Additional codes are used to specify the type of poisoning and intent (accidental)., A patient intentionally ingests pufferfish (fugu) resulting in severe neurological and cardiovascular complications.The diagnosis of T61 is documented along with codes for specific complications, intent (intentional self-harm), and further specification of the seafood., A patient is admitted to the hospital after a suspected consumption of shellfish contaminated with a neurotoxin.The diagnosis is coded as T61, with further tests to pinpoint the specific toxin involved and additional codes reflecting the patient's clinical presentation.

Detailed medical history, including the type of seafood consumed, time of consumption, and the onset of symptoms;Physical examination findings documenting the patient's symptoms;Laboratory results to confirm the diagnosis (e.g., toxicological analysis of blood or stool samples);Treatment plan outlining the steps taken to manage the patient’s symptoms.

** This code is used for various types of seafood poisoning.Always ensure accurate documentation to support the chosen code.Be aware of potential overlaps with other poisoning codes and use additional codes as needed to clarify the clinical picture.

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