Version 2024

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code A38.8

Scarlet fever with other complications

ICD-10-CM Code:: A38.8
ICD-10 Code for:: Scarlet fever with other complications
Is Billable?: Yes - Valid for Submission
Chronic Condition Indicator: ^[1]: Not chronic
Code Navigator:

Code Information
Approximate Synonyms
Clinical Classification
Clinical Information
Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries
Index to Diseases and Injuries References
Diagnostic Related Groups Mapping
Convert to ICD-9 Code
Patient Education
Other Codes Used Similar Conditions
Code History

Code Classification

Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
(A00–B99)
- Other bacterial diseases
  (A30-A49)
  - Scarlet fever
    (A38)

A38.8 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of scarlet fever with other complications. The code is valid during the current fiscal year for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions from October 01, 2023 through September 30, 2024.

Approximate Synonyms

The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:

Staphylococcal scarlatina

Clinical Classification

Clinical Category is Bacterial infections
CCSR Category Code: INF003
Inpatient Default CCSR: Y - Yes, default inpatient assignment for principal diagnosis or first-listed diagnosis.
Outpatient Default CCSR: Y - Yes, default outpatient assignment for principal diagnosis or first-listed diagnosis.

Clinical Information

Scarlet Fever
infection with group a streptococci that is characterized by tonsillitis and pharyngitis. an erythematous rash is commonly present.
Scarlet Fever
a streptococcal infection, mainly occurring among children, that is characterized by a red skin rash, sore throat, and fever.

Index to Diseases and Injuries References

The following annotation back-references for this diagnosis code are found in the injuries and diseases index. The Index to Diseases and Injuries is an alphabetical listing of medical terms, with each term mapped to one or more ICD-10-CM code(s).

- Albuminuria, albuminuric (acute) (chronic) (subacute) - See Also: Proteinuria; - R80.9
- - scarlatinal - A38.8

- Convulsions (idiopathic) - See Also: Seizure(s); - R56.9
- - scarlatinal - A38.8

- Scarlatina (anginosa) (maligna) - A38.9
- - ulcerosa - A38.8

- Ulcerosa scarlatina - A38.8

A38.8 is grouped with Diagnostic Related Groups - MS-DRG Mapping

Diagnostic Related Groups (DRGs) are a classification system used to group together diagnosis codes for the purpose of reimbursement and healthcare management. DRGs are used to standardize the way hospitals and other providers are paid for inpatient services. In this system patients are grouped together based on their principal diagnosis in areas referred to as Major Diagnostic Categories (MDC). Once a patient is assigned a particular diagnostic category, providers receive a predetermined payment rate for the services rendered. This reimbursement rate is often fixed and is meant to cover the cost of care for that patient. Reimbursement is also affected by the relative weight of a diagnostic related group based on the severity of a patient's illness and the associated cost of care during hospitalization.

Diagnostic related groups encourage healthcare providers to focus on quality and efficiency in patient care while managing costs effectively. The diagnosis code is present in the following groups for version MS-DRG V41.0 applicable from 10/01/2023 through 09/30/2024.

MS-DRG	MS-DRG Title	MCD	Relative Weight
867	OTHER INFECTIOUS AND PARASITIC DISEASES DIAGNOSES WITH MCC	18	2.0923
868	OTHER INFECTIOUS AND PARASITIC DISEASES DIAGNOSES WITH CC	18	1.0855
869	OTHER INFECTIOUS AND PARASITIC DISEASES DIAGNOSES WITHOUT CC/MCC	18	0.6907

The relative weight of a diagnostic related group determines the reimbursement rate based on the severity of a patient's illness and the associated cost of care during hospitalization.

Convert A38.8 to ICD-9-CM

ICD-9-CM Code: 034.1 - Scarlet fever
Approximate Flag - The approximate mapping means there is not an exact match between the ICD-10 and ICD-9 codes and the mapped code is not a precise representation of the original code.

Patient Education

Streptococcal Infections

Strep is short for Streptococcus, a type of bacteria. There are several types. Two of them cause most of the strep infections in people: group A and group B.

Group A strep causes:

Strep throat - a sore, red throat. Your tonsils may be swollen and have white spots on them.
Scarlet fever - an illness that follows strep throat. It causes a red rash on the body.
Impetigo - a skin infection
Toxic shock syndrome
Cellulitis and necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease)

Group B strep can cause blood infections, pneumonia and meningitis in newborns. A screening test during pregnancy can tell if you have it. If you do, intravenous (IV) antibiotics during labor can save your baby's life. Adults can also get group B strep infections, especially if they are 65 or older or already have health problems. Strep B can cause urinary tract infections, blood infections, skin infections and pneumonia in adults.

Antibiotics are used to treat strep infections.

[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.