2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code B03

Smallpox

ICD-10-CM Code:
B03
ICD-10 Code for:
Smallpox
Is Billable?
Yes - Valid for Submission
Chronic Condition Indicator: [1]
Not chronic
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
    (A00–B99)
    • Viral infections characterized by skin and mucous membrane lesions
      (B00-B09)
      • Smallpox
        (B03)

B03 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of smallpox. 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:

  • Alastrim
  • Flat-type smallpox
  • Hemorrhagic smallpox
  • Modified smallpox
  • Smallpox
  • Smallpox without rash
  • Variola major

Clinical Classification

Clinical Information

  • Smallpox

    an acute, highly contagious, often fatal infectious disease caused by an orthopoxvirus characterized by a biphasic febrile course and distinctive progressive skin eruptions. vaccination has succeeded in eradicating smallpox worldwide. (dorland, 28th ed)
  • Smallpox Vaccine

    a vaccinia virus vaccine used for immunization against smallpox. it is now recommended only for laboratory workers exposed to smallpox virus. certain countries continue to vaccinate those in the military service. rare complications most often associated with older generation smallpox vaccines include vaccinia, secondary bacterial infections, and encephalomyelitis. because monkeypox virus and smallpox virus are both orthopoxvirus and are closely related smallpox vaccines provide effective cross-protection against monkeypox (https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/clinicians/smallpox-vaccine.html).
  • Variola virus

    a species of orthopoxvirus causing infections in humans. no infections have been reported since 1977 and the virus is now believed to be virtually extinct.
  • Orthopoxvirus

    a genus of the family poxviridae, subfamily chordopoxvirinae, comprising many species infecting mammals. viruses of this genus cause generalized infections and a rash in some hosts. the type species is vaccinia virus.
  • Modified Smallpox

    smallpox that occurs in an individual who has been vaccinated.
  • MVA-BN Smallpox Vaccine|Imvamune|Imvanex|JYNNEOS|MVA Smallpox Vaccine|Modified Vaccinia Ankara - Bavarian Nordic Smallpox Vaccine|Modified Vaccinia Ankara Smallpox Vaccine|VACCINIA VIRUS MODIFIED STRAIN ANKARA-BAVARIAN NORDIC NON-REPLICATING ANTIGEN

    a vaccine consisting of modified vaccinia ankara-bavarian nordic (mva-bn), a live, attenuated, non-replicating, proprietary version of the mva virus, used for the prevention of smallpox and monkeypox, with potential antineoplastic activity. upon intratumoral administration, mva-bn smallpox vaccine may induce both cellular and humoral immune responses, which may lead to tumor cell lysis.
  • Smallpox

    a condition that is caused by infection with variola, and that is characterized by small, raised bumps.
  • Variola Virus|Smallpox Virus|Smallpox Virus|VARIOLA VIRUS|Variola Virus VAR

    an orthopoxvirus that is the causative agent of smallpox.
  • Alastrim

    a orthopoxvirus that causes a milder clinical syndrome than smallpox.

Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries

The following annotation back-references are applicable to this diagnosis code. The Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is a list of ICD-10-CM codes, organized "head to toe" into chapters and sections with coding notes and guidance for inclusions, exclusions, descriptions and more.


  • In 1980 the 33rd World Health Assembly declared that smallpox had been eradicated.
  • The classification is maintained for surveillance purposes.

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).

Convert B03 to ICD-9-CM

  • ICD-9-CM Code: 050.0 - Variola major
    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.
  • ICD-9-CM Code: 050.1 - Alastrim
    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.
  • ICD-9-CM Code: 050.9 - Smallpox NOS
    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


Smallpox

Smallpox is a disease caused by the Variola major virus. Some experts say that over the centuries it has killed more people than all other infectious diseases combined. Worldwide vaccination stopped the spread of smallpox three decades ago. The last case was reported in 1977. Two research labs still keep small amounts of the virus. Experts fear bioterrorists could use the virus to spread disease.

Smallpox spreads very easily from person to person. Symptoms are flu-like. They include:

  • High fever
  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Backache
  • A rash with flat red sores

There is no treatment. Fluids and medicines for pain or fever can help control symptoms. Most people recover, but some can die. Those who do recover may have severe scars.

The U.S. stopped routine smallpox vaccinations in 1972. Military and other high-risk groups continue to get the vaccine. The U.S. has increased its supply of the vaccine in recent years. The vaccine makes some people sick, so doctors save it for those at highest risk of disease.


[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.