Question

A 10 month-old comes into the pediatrician's office for a harsh, bark-like cough. She is diagnosed with croup. The mother also wants the pediatrician to look at a rash that has developed on her leg. The pediatrician prescribes over the counter medication of acetaminophen for the croup and hydrocortisone cream for the rash on the leg. She is to follow up in five days or return earlier if the conditions worsen. What ICD-10-CM code(s) should be reported for this visit?

Answer 1

For a 10 month-old diagnosed with croup and a skin rash, the ICD-10-CM codes would be J05.0 for croup and R21 for the nonspecific rash. Acetaminophen is prescribed for symptomatic relief from croup, while hydrocortisone cream is used for the rash.

Step-by-step explanation:

To accurately code the pediatrician's visit for the 10 month-old diagnosed with croup and a leg rash, we need to use the ICD-10-CM (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification) coding system. Since croup is characterized by a harsh, bark-like cough, the appropriate ICD-10-CM code for croup would be J05.0 which stands for Acute obstructive laryngitis (croup).

As croup is a viral infection that leads to swelling of the larynx and trachea, it's important to note that acetaminophen is prescribed for its fever-reducing properties and its capability to alleviate discomfort rather than as a direct treatment for croup itself.

For the rash on the leg, without further specificity regarding the nature of the rash (e.g., atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, etc.), the general ICD-10-CM code for a rash is R21, which stands for Rash and other nonspecific skin eruption.

Hydrocortisone cream is commonly used to treat inflammatory skin conditions, providing relief from itching and redness.

In this case, the pediatrician prescribed acetaminophen, which is a safer option compared to codeine or hydrocortisone-containing medications for young children due to the concerns over adverse effects and the FDA's warning on breathing problems associated with codeine usage in children. For rashes, hydrocortisone cream is widely recommended for its effectiveness in reducing skin inflammation.