Final answer:
ICD-10 codes can have different numbers of characters, typically ranging from 3 to 7.
Step-by-step explanation:
The category codes in the ICD-10 coding system generally consist of three to seven characters. Each character has a specific meaning and provides information about a diagnosis, symptom, or cause of illness.
For example, the ICD-10 code for the common cold is J00, where 'J' represents diseases of the respiratory system, '00' specifies a specific condition within that category.
Therefore, the answer to your question is that the number of characters contained in category codes (ICD-10 codes) can vary from 3 to 7, depending on the specific code.