Version 2024

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code A20

Plague

ICD-10-CM Code:
A20
ICD-10 Code for:
Plague
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
    (A00–B99)
    • Certain zoonotic bacterial diseases
      (A20-A28)

A20 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of plague. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2024 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

Specific Coding Applicable to Plague

Non-specific codes like A20 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for plague:

  • Use A20.0 for Bubonic plague - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use A20.1 for Cellulocutaneous plague - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use A20.2 for Pneumonic plague - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use A20.3 for Plague meningitis - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use A20.7 for Septicemic plague - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use A20.8 for Other forms of plague - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use A20.9 for Plague, unspecified - BILLABLE CODE

Clinical Information

  • African Horse Sickness

    an insect-borne reovirus infection of horses, mules and donkeys in africa and the middle east; characterized by pulmonary edema, cardiac involvement, and edema of the head and neck.
  • Feline Panleukopenia

    a highly contagious dna virus infection of the cat family, characterized by fever, enteritis and bone marrow changes. it is also called feline ataxia, feline agranulocytosis, feline infectious enteritis, cat fever, cat plague, and show fever. it is caused by feline panleukopenia virus or the closely related mink enteritis virus or canine parvovirus.
  • Influenza A virus

    the type species of the genus influenzavirus a that causes influenza and other diseases in humans and animals. antigenic variation occurs frequently between strains, allowing classification into subtypes and variants. transmission is usually by aerosol (human and most non-aquatic hosts) or waterborne (ducks). infected birds shed the virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces.
  • Influenza in Birds

    infection of domestic and wild fowl and other birds with influenza a virus. avian influenza usually does not sicken birds, but can be highly pathogenic and fatal in domestic poultry.
  • Plague

    an acute infectious disease caused by yersinia pestis that affects humans, wild rodents, and their ectoparasites. this condition persists due to its firm entrenchment in sylvatic rodent-flea ecosystems throughout the world. bubonic plague is the most common form.
  • Plague Vaccine

    a suspension of killed yersinia pestis used for immunizing people in enzootic plague areas.
  • Rinderpest

    a viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals caused by morbillivirus. it may be acute, subacute, or chronic with the major lesions characterized by inflammation and ulceration of the entire digestive tract. the disease was declared successfully eradicated worldwide in 2010.
  • Yersinia pestis

    the etiologic agent of plague in man, rats, ground squirrels, and other rodents.
  • Morbillivirus

    a genus of the family paramyxoviridae (subfamily paramyxovirinae) where the virions of most members have hemagglutinin but not neuraminidase activity. all members produce both cytoplasmic and intranuclear inclusion bodies. measles virus is the type species.
  • Plague

    a gram-negative bacterial infection caused by yersinia pestis. it is usually transmitted to humans from bites of infected rodent fleas. it is manifested as a bubonic, septicemic, or pneumonic plague. in bubonic plague, the lymph nodes adjacent to the site of the skin bite are infected and enlarged. in septicemic plague, the infection spreads directly through the bloodstream. in pneumonic plague, the infection spreads to the lungs either following bubonic plague, or by inhalation of infective droplets. if untreated, it may lead to death.

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.


Includes

Includes
This note appears immediately under a three character code title to further define, or give examples of, the content of the category.
  • infection due to Yersinia pestis

Patient Education


Plague

Plague is an infection caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. The bacteria are found mainly in rats and in the fleas that feed on them. People and other animals can get plague from rat or flea bites. In the past, plague destroyed entire civilizations. Today plague is uncommon, due to better living conditions and antibiotics.

There are three forms of plague:

  • Bubonic plague causes the tonsils, adenoids, spleen, and thymus to become inflamed. Symptoms include fever, aches, chills, and tender lymph glands.
  • In septicemic plague, bacteria multiply in the blood. It causes fever, chills, shock, and bleeding under the skin or other organs.
  • Pneumonic plague is the most serious form. Bacteria enter the lungs and cause pneumonia. People with the infection can spread this form to others. This type could be a bioterror agent.

Lab tests can diagnose plague. Treatment is a strong antibiotic. There is no vaccine.


[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.