Question

A patient is admitted with fever and severe headache. The physician's diagnostic statement at discharge is: Fever and severe headache probably due to viral meningitis.

a) G03.9, R50.9
b) G02, R51
c) G03.9, R51
d) G02, R50.9

Answer 1

The correct diagnostic codes for a patient with fever and severe headache probably due to viral meningitis are G03.9 for meningitis unspecified and R51 for headache.

Step-by-step explanation:

The subject is dealing with the diagnostic coding of a patient's symptoms, which are fever and severe headache probably due to viral meningitis. Meningitis is a serious condition characterized by the infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, which can lead to symptoms such as fever, headache, and a stiff neck. Viral meningitis is often less severe than bacterial meningitis and typically resolves on its own, whereas bacterial meningitis requires emergency medical treatment. Considering the ICD-10 codes provided in the options, the most appropriate codes for the diagnosis given by the physician would be G03.9 for meningitis unspecified, since the physician stated 'probably due to viral meningitis' indicating that it wasn’t specifically confirmed, and R51 for headache, as 'severe headache' is a symptom the patient is experiencing.