2025 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code A85

Other viral encephalitis, not elsewhere classified

ICD-10-CM Code:: A85
ICD-10 Code for:: Other viral encephalitis, not elsewhere classified
Is Billable?: Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

A85 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of other viral encephalitis, not elsewhere classified. 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.

Table of Contents

Code Information
Specific Coding
Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries
Patient Education
Other Codes Used Similar Conditions
Code History

Specific Coding Applicable to Other viral encephalitis, not elsewhere classified

Non-specific codes like A85 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 other viral encephalitis, not elsewhere classified:

Use A85.0 for Enteroviral encephalitis - BILLABLE CODE
Use A85.1 for Adenoviral encephalitis - BILLABLE CODE
Use A85.2 for Arthropod-borne viral encephalitis, unspecified - BILLABLE CODE
Use A85.8 for Other specified viral encephalitis - BILLABLE CODE

Code Classification

Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
A00–B99
- Viral and prion infections of the central nervous system
  A80-A89
  - Other viral encephalitis, not elsewhere classified
    A85

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

specified viral encephalomyelitis NEC
specified viral meningoencephalitis NEC

Type 1 Excludes

encephalitis due to cytomegalovirus B25.8
encephalitis due to herpesvirus NEC B10.0
encephalitis due to herpesvirus herpes simplex B00.4
encephalitis due to measles virus B05.0
encephalitis due to mumps virus B26.2
encephalitis due to poliomyelitis virus A80
encephalitis due to zoster B02.0
lymphocytic choriomeningitis A87.2
myalgic encephalomyelitis G93.32

Patient Education

Encephalitis

What is encephalitis?

Encephalitis is inflammation (swelling) of the brain. It can happen when an infection or medical condition that affects the brain activates your immune system. The inflammation can cause a wide range of symptoms. In extreme cases, it can lead to brain damage, stroke, or even death.

What causes encephalitis?

There are different types of encephalitis, based on what the cause is. The two main types are infectious encephalitis and autoimmune encephalitis.

Infectious encephalitis is usually caused by a virus. In fact, viruses are the most common cause of encephalitis. Some of the different viruses that cause it include:

Herpes viruses, including herpes simplex (HSV), the Epstein-Barr virus (which causes infectious mononucleosis) and the varicella-zoster virus (which causes chickenpox).
Viruses you can get if you are bitten by an infected tick, such as tick-borne encephalitis (TBE virus) and Powassan virus.
Viruses you can get if you are bitten by an infected mosquito, such as eastern equine encephalitis virus, West Nile virus, and La Crosse virus.
Enteroviruses, which are a common group of viruses that mostly cause mild illness or respiratory infection. These infections usually happen in the summer and fall.

Bacteria, fungi, and parasites can also cause infectious encephalitis. But this is not common.

Autoimmune encephalitis happens when your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy brain cells. It can be triggered by conditions such as certain cancers, benign tumors, and infections. Sometimes the cause is not known.

Who is more likely to get encephalitis?

Anyone can get encephalitis, but you are more likely to get it if you:

Have a weakened immune system, for example from having HIV or taking certain medicines. These could include medicines taken after an organ transplant, certain chemotherapy medicines, and specialized treatments for certain autoimmune diseases.
Are a young child or older adult.
Live in areas where there are ticks and mosquitoes that carry viruses that can cause encephalitis.

What are the symptoms of encephalitis?

The symptoms of encephalitis can vary a lot, depending on how severe it is. Many people do not have any symptoms. Others may have mild flu-like symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache, or body aches. If encephalitis becomes more serious, it can cause:

Severe headache
Stiff neck
Vomiting
Seizures
Behavior changes
Drowsiness
Muscle weakness
Partial paralysis in your arms and legs
Coma

Encephalitis can be dangerous in infants. Their symptoms may include:

Fever
Lethargy (weakness or drowsiness)
Poor feeding
Vomiting
Body stiffness
Unusual irritability or crying
A full or bulging fontanel (the soft spot on the top of the head)

If you or your child is having symptoms of encephalitis, it's important to get medical care right away.

How is encephalitis diagnosed?

To find out if you have encephalitis, your health care provider:

Will do a physical exam
Will take your medical history, which includes asking about your symptoms
May do a neurologic exam
May order imaging tests, such as a brain CT scan or MRI
May order an EEG (electroencephalography), which use small electric sensors to measure your brain activity
May order blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tests

What are the treatments for encephalitis?

Most people with encephalitis will need treatment in the hospital. Depending on the cause, treatments may include antiviral medicines, antibiotics, corticosteroids, and other medicines.

For some types of encephalitis, there is no medicine to treat it. But rest, nutrition, and fluids can help your body fight the infection and relieve symptoms.

Some people may need physical, speech, and occupational therapy once the illness is under control.

Can encephalitis be prevented?

There are steps you can take to help prevent encephalitis that is caused by infections:

Use good hygiene, including washing your hands often with soap and water.
Don't share food, drinks, utensils, and glasses with other people.
Get vaccines for viruses that can cause encephalitis.
Avoid mosquito and tick bites, for example by:
- Wearing insect repellent with DEET or another U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent. Make sure to follow the instructions for using the repellant.
- Wearing clothes that cover your arms, legs and feet.
- Treating your clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin before you go in grassy or woody areas.

NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Viral Infections

What are viruses?

Viruses are very tiny germs. They are made of genetic material (either DNA or RNA) inside of a protein coating. There are a huge number of viruses on earth. Only a small number of them can infect humans. Those viruses can infect our cells, which may cause disease. Some of the diseases that viruses can cause include the common cold, the flu, COVID-19, and HIV.

How are viruses spread?

Viruses can be spread in different ways:

Through droplets and particles that are breathed out by someone who has the infection. You might breathe in the droplets or particles, or they could land on your mouth, nose, or eyes.
By touching surfaces or objects that have the virus on them and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.
From the pregnant parent to the baby during pregnancy.
Through contaminated food or water.
By being bitten by an infected insect or animal.
Through sexual contact (usually vaginal, anal and oral sex) with someone who has the infection.

How do viruses cause disease?

Viruses are like hijackers. They invade living, normal cells. They then use those cells to multiply (make copies of themselves). This process is also called replication. The process can kill, damage, or change the infected cells. Sometimes this can make you sick. The symptoms can range from mild to very severe. Other times, your immune system may be able to fight it off and you may not have any symptoms.

Each different virus usually only infects one type of cell in your body. For example, hepatitis viruses affect the cells in the liver. HIV infects a certain type of immune system cell.

What are the treatments for viral infections?

For most viral infections, treatments can only help with symptoms while you wait for your immune system to fight off the virus. There are antiviral medicines to treat some viral infections. Antibiotics do not work for viral infections.

Can viral infections be prevented?

Vaccines can help prevent you from getting many viral diseases. You may be able to prevent some viral infections by:

Proper hand washing.
Paying attention to food safety.
Cleaning surfaces that may be infected with germs.
Avoiding contact with wild animals.
Preventing insect bites by using insect repellent when you go outdoors. If you travel to an area that has a high risk of diseases from insect bites, also wear long pants, shirts, and socks.
Practicing safe sex (using a condom every time you have anal, vaginal, or oral sex).
Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.