B55.9 - Leishmaniasis, unspecified

Approximate Synonyms

The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:

• Hemorrhagic leishmaniasis
• Infection by Leishmania infantum
• Leishmanial pneumonia
• Leishmaniasis
• Panamanian leishmaniasis
• Pneumonia due to parasitic infestation

Clinical Information

• Leishmaniasis-. a disease caused by any of a number of species of protozoa in the genus leishmania. there are four major clinical types of this infection: cutaneous (old and new world) (leishmaniasis, cutaneous), diffuse cutaneous (leishmaniasis, diffuse cutaneous), mucocutaneous (leishmaniasis, mucocutaneous), and visceral (leishmaniasis, visceral).
• Leishmaniasis Vaccines-. vaccines or candidate vaccines used to prevent infection with leishmania.
• Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous-. an endemic disease that is characterized by the development of single or multiple localized lesions on exposed areas of skin that typically ulcerate. the disease has been divided into old and new world forms. old world leishmaniasis is separated into three distinct types according to epidemiology and clinical manifestations and is caused by species of the l. tropica and l. aethiopica complexes as well as by species of the l. major genus. new world leishmaniasis, also called american leishmaniasis, occurs in south and central america and is caused by species of the l. mexicana or l. braziliensis complexes.
• Leishmaniasis, Diffuse Cutaneous-. a form of leishmaniasis, cutaneous caused by leishmania aethiopica in ethiopia and kenya, l. pifanoi in venezuela, l. braziliensis in south america, and l. mexicana in central america. this disease is characterized by massive dissemination of skin lesions without visceral involvement.
• Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous-. a disease characterized by the chronic, progressive spread of lesions from new world cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by species of the l. braziliensis complex to the nasal, pharyngeal, and buccal mucosa some time after the appearance of the initial cutaneous lesion. nasal obstruction and epistaxis are frequent presenting symptoms.
• Leishmaniasis, Visceral-. a chronic disease caused by leishmania donovani and transmitted by the bite of several sandflies of the genera phlebotomus and lutzomyia. it is commonly characterized by fever, chills, vomiting, anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, leukopenia, hypergammaglobulinemia, emaciation, and an earth-gray color of the skin. the disease is classified into three main types according to geographic distribution: indian, mediterranean (or infantile), and african.
• Leishmania-. a genus of flagellate protozoa comprising several species that are pathogenic for humans. organisms of this genus have an amastigote and a promastigote stage in their life cycles. as a result of enzymatic studies this single genus has been divided into two subgenera: leishmania leishmania and leishmania viannia. species within the leishmania leishmania subgenus include: l. aethiopica, l. arabica, l. donovani, l. enrietti, l. gerbilli, l. hertigi, l. infantum, l. major, l. mexicana, and l. tropica. the following species are those that compose the leishmania viannia subgenus: l. braziliensis, l. guyanensis, l. lainsoni, l. naiffi, and l. shawi.
• Leishmania donovani-. a parasitic hemoflagellate of the subgenus leishmania leishmania that infects man and animals and causes visceral leishmaniasis (leishmaniasis, visceral). the sandfly genera phlebotomus and lutzomyia are the vectors.
• American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis-. the most common form of leishmaniasis that is transmitted through the bite of female phlebotomine sand flies or after exposure to leishmania parasites. it is characterized by skin lesions at the site of insect bite which typically develop within weeks or months after exposure. the lesions typically progress from small papules to open sores with raised borders and central ulcers which can be covered with scales or crust.
• Asian Desert Cutaneous Leishmaniasis-. an acute necrotizing form of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by infection with leishmania tropica major.
• Cutaneous Leishmaniasis-. leishmaniasis affecting the skin. it is the most common form of leishmaniasis. it presents with erythematous macules and papules, and nodules which may eventually ulcerate. the lesions appear in the bite site in the exposed skin areas.
• Kala-Azar|Visceral Leishmaniasis-. a chronic parasitic infection affecting the viscera and caused by leishmania donovani. signs and symptoms include fever, anorexia, fatigue, lymphadenopathy, anemia, and hepatosplenomegaly. if left untreated it may lead to death.
• Leishmaniasis-. a parasitic infection caused by protozoa of the genus leishmania. it is transmitted to humans via the bite of sandflies. there are three main forms of the disease: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral leishmaniasis. cutaneous leishmaniasis causes skin ulcers; mucocutaneous leishmaniasis causes destructive lesions of the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, and throat; visceral leishmaniasis is the most severe form of the disease and is manifested with anemia, weight loss, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly.
• Post Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis-. a cutaneous form of leishmaniasis which sometimes occurs after visceral leishmaniasis treatment. it is characterized by hypo-pigmented macules, papules, plaques, nodules, or facial erythema; and is considered to be a durable infection reservoir for visceral leishmaniasis.

Diagnostic Related Groups - MS-DRG Mapping

The is diagnosis code is grouped in the following groups for version MS-DRG V40.0 What are Diagnostic Related Groups?
The Diagnostic Related Groups (DRGs) are a patient classification scheme which provides a means of relating the type of patients a hospital treats. The DRGs divides all possible principal diagnoses into mutually exclusive principal diagnosis areas referred to as Major Diagnostic Categories (MDC). applicable from 10/01/2022 through 09/30/2023.

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Patient Education

Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease spread by the bite of infected sand flies. There are several different forms of leishmaniasis. The most common are cutaneous and visceral. The cutaneous type causes skin sores. The visceral type affects internal organs such as the spleen, liver, and bone marrow. People with this form usually have fever, weight loss, and an enlarged spleen and liver.

Leishmaniasis is found in parts of about 88 countries. Most of these countries are in the tropics and subtropics. It is possible but very unlikely that you would get this disease in the United States. But you should be aware of it if you are traveling to the Middle East or parts of Central America, South America, Asia, Africa or southern Europe.

Treatment is with medicines that contain antimony, a type of metal, or with strong antibiotics. The best way to prevent the disease is to protect yourself from sand fly bites:

• Stay indoors from dusk to dawn, when sand flies are the most active
• Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outside
• Use insect repellent and bed nets as needed

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Code History

• 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 (First year ICD-10-CM implemented into the HIPAA code set)