2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R68.19Other nonspecific symptoms peculiar to infancy

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R50-R69›R68

ICD-10-CM R68.19
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

R68.19 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other nonspecific symptoms peculiar to infancy. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). The code is restricted by the Medicare Code Editor to pediatric patients (age 0 through 17). As a symptom code, it should not be used as a principal diagnosis once a related definitive diagnosis has been established. Coders also document this condition as crying infant. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Other general signs and symptoms.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R68.19
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Other nonspecific symptoms peculiar to infancy
Short Description
Other nonspecific symptoms peculiar to infancy
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
R68.1
Nonspecific symptoms peculiar to infancy

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR50-R69General symptoms and signs
CategoryR68Other general symptoms and signs
This CodeR68.19Other nonspecific symptoms peculiar to infancy

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for R68.19.

Pediatric diagnoses
The Medicare Code Editor detects inconsistencies in pediatric cases by checking a patient's age and any diagnosis on the patient's record. The pediatric code edits apply to patients age range is 0–17 years inclusive (e.g., Reye's syndrome, routine child health exam).

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Crying infant

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.

    • Symptoms NEC
      • of infancy

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR SYM016
Other general signs and symptoms
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Common Infant and Newborn Problems

It is hard when your baby is sick. Common health problems in babies include colds, coughs, fevers, and vomiting. Babies also commonly have skin problems, like diaper rash or cradle cap.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert R68.19 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
799.89 Ill-define condition NEC
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 R68.19Overview

Is R68.19 (Nonspecific symptoms peculiar to infancy) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report other nonspecific symptoms peculiar to infancy on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Can R68.19 be a principal diagnosis?

Use it with care. This is a symptom code, so once a definitive diagnosis explaining the other nonspecific symptoms peculiar to infancy is established, that condition takes the principal position instead.

Who can R68.19 be reported for?

The Medicare Code Editor checks other nonspecific symptoms peculiar to infancy against patient demographics: this code is intended for pediatric patients (age 0 through 17). Claims outside these limits are flagged as inconsistent.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of R68.19?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, other nonspecific symptoms peculiar to infancy converts to ICD-9-CM 799.89 (ill-define condition NEC). 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.