2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code A50.03Early congenital syphilitic pharyngitis

ICD-10-CM Codes›A00–B99›A50-A64›A50

ICD-10-CM A50.03
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

A50.03 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for early congenital syphilitic pharyngitis. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 867 through 869. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Other specified upper respiratory infections, Perinatal infections, and Sexually transmitted infections (excluding HIV and hepatitis).

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
A50.03
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Early congenital syphilitic pharyngitis
Short Description
Early congenital syphilitic pharyngitis
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
A50.0
Early congenital syphilis, symptomatic

Code Classification

ChapterA00–B99Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
SectionA50-A64Infections with a predominantly sexual mode of transmission
CategoryA50Congenital syphilis
This CodeA50.03Early congenital syphilitic pharyngitis

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Inclusion Terms

  • Early congenital syphilitic laryngitis

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Catarrh, catarrhal(acute) (febrile) (infectious) (inflammation)
      • due to congenital syphilis
    • Laryngitis(acute) (edematous) (fibrinous) (infective) (infiltrative) (malignant) (membranous) (phlegmonous) (pneumococcal) (pseudomembranous) (septic) (subglottic) (suppurative) (ulcerative)
      • syphilitic (late)
        • congenital
          • early
    • Laryngotracheitis(acute) (Infectional) (infective) (viral)
      • syphilitic (late)
        • congenital
          • early
    • Pharyngitis(acute) (catarrhal)(gangrenous) (infective) (malignant) (membranous) (phlegmonous) (pseudomembranous) (simple) (subacute) (suppurative) (ulcerative) (viral)
      • syphilitic, congenital (early)
    • Syphilis, syphilitic(acquired)
      • congenital
        • early, or less than 2 years after birth NEC
          • symptomatic
            • pharyngitis

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR RSP006
Other specified upper respiratory infections
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No
CCSR PNL009
Perinatal infections
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes
CCSR INF010
Sexually transmitted infections (excluding HIV and hepatitis)
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No

Patient EducationClinical

Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by bacteria. It infects the genital area, lips, mouth, or anus of both men and women. You usually get syphilis from sexual contact with someone who has it. It can also pass from mother to baby during pregnancy.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert A50.03 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
090.0 Early cong syph symptom
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About A50.03Overview

Is A50.03 (Early congenital syphilis, symptomatic) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report early congenital syphilitic pharyngitis on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does A50.03 group to?

When early congenital syphilitic pharyngitis is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 867, 868, 869, with relative weights from 0.7297 to 2.0932 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of A50.03?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, early congenital syphilitic pharyngitis converts to ICD-9-CM 090.0 (early cong syph symptom). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

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.