Omphalitis of newborn (P38)

ICD-10 code P38 is used specifically to identify omphalitis of the newborn, which is an infection of the umbilical stump in newborn infants. This condition requires precise coding to differentiate between cases with or without complications such as hemorrhage.

The ICD-10-CM section for Omphalitis of Newborn (P38) includes codes like P38.1 for omphalitis with mild hemorrhage, alerting healthcare providers to bleeding associated with the infection. For infections without bleeding, P38.9 is used, covering a range of neonatal umbilical infections commonly known by various terms such as "Staphylococcal omphalitis," "Cellulitis and abscess of the umbilicus," and "Neonatal streptococcal infection." These synonyms help coders connect the clinical diagnosis to the correct ICD-10 code. Accurate use of these codes supports the management and documentation of perinatal infections affecting the umbilical area in newborns, enabling proper treatment and health reporting.

Instructional Notations

Type 1 Excludes

A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.

  • omphalitis not of newborn L08.82
  • tetanus omphalitis A33
  • umbilical hemorrhage of newborn P51