Other general symptoms and signs (R68)
The ICD-10 code section R68 covers a variety of other general symptoms and signs that do not fit into more specific categories, such as hypothermia not linked to cold environments and miscellaneous infant-specific symptoms. These codes are utilized to accurately classify unusual or nonspecific symptoms encountered in clinical settings.
This section includes codes like R68.0 for hypothermia not caused by cold surroundings, a condition sometimes called induced hypothermia or decreased skin temperature. For infants, codes such as R68.11 and R68.12 describe excessive crying and fussiness; terms clinicians also recognize as constant crying and neonatal agitation, respectively. The code R68.13 identifies apparent life-threatening events in infants (ALTE). Other codes capture symptoms like dry mouth (R68.2), finger clubbing (R68.3), early satiety (R68.81), decreased libido (R68.82), chills without fever (R68.83), and jaw pain (R68.84). The broader codes R68.8 and R68.89 cover miscellaneous general symptoms including subtle or nonspecific clinical signs. Medical coders use these options to precisely document uncommon or difficult-to-classify symptoms when coding patient records.
Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00–R99)
General symptoms and signs (R50-R69)
R68 Other general symptoms and signs
- R68.0 Hypothermia, not associated with low environmental temperature
R68.1 Nonspecific symptoms peculiar to infancy
- R68.11 Excessive crying of infant (baby)
- R68.12 Fussy infant (baby)
- R68.13 Apparent life threatening event in infant (ALTE)
- R68.19 Other nonspecific symptoms peculiar to infancy
- R68.2 Dry mouth, unspecified
- R68.3 Clubbing of fingers
R68.8 Other general symptoms and signs
- R68.81 Early satiety
- R68.82 Decreased libido
- R68.83 Chills (without fever)
- R68.84 Jaw pain
- R68.89 Other general symptoms and signs
Other general symptoms and signs (R68)
Clinical Terms
The following clinical terms provide additional context, helping users better understand the clinical background and common associations for each diagnosis listed in this section. Including related terms alongside ICD-10-CM codes supports coders, billers, and healthcare professionals in improving accuracy, enhancing documentation, and facilitating research or patient education.
Acanthosis Nigricans
A circumscribed melanosis consisting of a brown-pigmented, velvety verrucosity or fine papillomatosis appearing in the axillae and other body folds. It occurs in association with endocrine disorders, underlying malignancy, administration of certain drugs, or as in inherited disorder.
Body Odor
Strong or unusual odor related to the body. Occasional abnormal body odor may be a temporary effect of a metabolic change.
Chills
The sudden sensation of being cold. It may be accompanied by SHIVERING.
Cri-du-Chat Syndrome
An infantile syndrome characterized by a cat-like cry, failure to thrive, microcephaly, MENTAL RETARDATION, spastic quadriparesis, micro- and retrognathia, glossoptosis, bilateral epicanthus, hypertelorism, and tiny external genitalia. It is caused by a deletion of the short arm of chromosome 5 (5p-).
Crying
To utter an inarticulate, characteristic sound in order to communicate or express a feeling, or desire for attention.
Shivering
Involuntary contraction or twitching of the muscles. It is a physiologic method of heat production in man and other mammals.
