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  6. 2025 ICD-10-CM Code A39
Version 2025
Non-Billable Code

2025 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code A39

Meningococcal infection

ICD-10-CM Code:
A39
ICD-10 Code for:
Meningococcal infection
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

A39 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of meningococcal infection. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2025 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 Meningococcal infection

Non-specific codes like A39 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 meningococcal infection:

  • Use A39.0 for Meningococcal meningitis - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use A39.1 for Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use A39.2 for Acute meningococcemia - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use A39.3 for Chronic meningococcemia - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use A39.4 for Meningococcemia, unspecified - BILLABLE CODE

  • A39.5 for Meningococcal heart disease - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use A39.50 for Meningococcal carditis, unspecified - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use A39.51 for Meningococcal endocarditis - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use A39.52 for Meningococcal myocarditis - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use A39.53 for Meningococcal pericarditis - BILLABLE CODE

  • A39.8 for Other meningococcal infections - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use A39.81 for Meningococcal encephalitis - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use A39.82 for Meningococcal retrobulbar neuritis - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use A39.83 for Meningococcal arthritis - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use A39.84 for Postmeningococcal arthritis - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use A39.89 for Other meningococcal infections - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use A39.9 for Meningococcal infection, unspecified - BILLABLE CODE

Code Classification

  • Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
    (A00–B99)
    • Other bacterial diseases
      (A30-A49)
      • Meningococcal infection
        (A39)

Patient Education


Meningococcal Disease

What is meningococcal disease?

Meningococcal disease is the name for any illness that is caused by Neisseria meningitidis bacteria (also called meningococcal bacteria). These illnesses are often severe and can sometimes be deadly. They include infections of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) and in the bloodstream (sepsis). Vaccines can help prevent the disease.

What causes meningococcal disease?

Some people have Neisseria meningitidis, the bacteria that cause the disease, in the back of their nose and throat. They usually have the bacteria but don't get sick. This is called being a "carrier." But sometimes the bacteria can spread to other parts of the body and cause meningococcal disease.

The bacteria can spread from person to person through saliva (spit). It usually happens through close or lengthy contact with a person who has it. Close contact can include things like kissing and coughing.

You cannot catch the bacteria through casual contact with someone who has the disease. For example, you cannot get it by breathing air where that person has been.

Who is more likely to get meningococcal disease?

Anyone can get meningococcal disease, but you are more likely to get it if someone you live with has it. You are also more likely to get it if you have direct contact with the saliva of someone who has it (like through kissing).

Also, certain groups of people are more likely to get the disease. They include:

  • Children younger than 1 year old.
  • Teens and young adults ages 16 through 23 years old.
  • Adults 65 years and older.
  • People with medical conditions that weaken their immune system, including those with HIV and certain rare immune system diseases.
  • People who either don't have a spleen or have a spleen that does not function well.
  • People who take complement inhibitor. These are immunotherapy medicines that are given to people with certain rare conditions.
  • People who live in crowded settings, such as college dorms or military barracks.
  • People who travel to areas where the disease is more common, such as certain parts of sub-Saharan Africa.

What are the symptoms of meningococcal disease?

There are different types of meningococcal disease. The most common types are meningitis and septicemia. Both types are very serious and can be deadly in a matter of hours.

Meningococcal meningitis is a meningococcal infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. The most common symptoms include:

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Stiff neck

It can also cause symptoms such as:

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Photophobia (your eyes being more sensitive to light)
  • Confusion

It may be hard to notice these symptoms in newborns and babies. They can also have different symptoms. They may:

  • Be slow or inactive
  • Be irritable
  • Vomit
  • Feed poorly
  • Have a bulging of the soft spot of their skull

Meningococcal septicemia is a meningococcal infection of the bloodstream. It's also called meningococcemia. When someone has this disease, the bacteria enter the bloodstream and multiply. This damages the walls of the blood vessels and causes bleeding into the skin and organs. The symptoms may include:

  • Fever and chills
  • Fatigue
  • Vomiting
  • Cold hands and feet
  • Severe aches or pain in the muscles, joints, chest, or abdomen (belly)
  • Rapid breathing
  • Diarrhea
  • A dark purple rash (in the later stages of the disease)

Because it is so serious, you need to seek immediate medical attention if you or your child develops the symptoms of meningococcal disease.

How is meningococcal disease diagnosed?

The signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease are often similar to those of other illnesses. This can make it hard to diagnose.

If your (or your child's) health care provider thinks that you or your child could have meningococcal disease, they will order tests that take samples of blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid (fluid near the spinal cord). They will send the samples to a lab for testing. The testing will include bacteria culture testing, which can identify the specific type of bacteria that is causing the infection. Knowing this can help the provider decide on the best treatment.

What are the treatments for meningococcal disease?

Certain antibiotics can treat meningococcal disease. It is important that treatment is started as soon as possible. So if the provider thinks you have meningococcal disease, they will give you antibiotics right away (before the test results come back).

People with serious disease may need additional treatments, such as:

  • Breathing support
  • Medicines to treat low blood pressure
  • Surgery to remove dead tissue
  • Wound care for parts of the body with damaged skin

Some people with meningococcal disease will have long-term health problems and disabilities. These may include:

  • Loss of limb(s)
  • Deafness
  • Nervous system problems
  • Brain damage

Even with treatment, 10 to 15 in 100 people will die from the disease.

Can meningococcal disease be prevented?

The best way to prevent meningococcal disease is to get vaccinated. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends meningococcal vaccination for:

  • All preteens and teens
  • Children at higher risk for meningococcal disease
  • Adults at higher risk for meningococcal disease

If you are a close contact of a person with meningococcal disease, you will likely be given antibiotics to prevent you from getting sick. This is called "prophylaxis." Close contacts include people who are living together. They also include people who had direct contact with the saliva of a person who has the disease (such as from kissing).

Although it's rare, you can get meningococcal disease more than once.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


[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.