Plasmodium falciparum malaria (B50)

The ICD-10 code section B50 is used to classify infections caused by Plasmodium falciparum malaria, a serious parasitic disease. It helps specifically identify the type and severity of this malaria, including cerebral complications and other severe forms.

This section includes codes like B50.0 for Plasmodium falciparum malaria with cerebral complications, commonly referred to as cerebral malaria or falciparum malaria. Code B50.8 covers other severe and complicated cases, including conditions also called malarial shock lung, black water fever, or simply falciparum malaria with complications. The unspecified code B50.9 is used when the specific details aren’t documented but may relate to various terms like algid malaria, malarial fever, or malignant tertian fever. Using these codes ensures clear identification of Plasmodium falciparum malaria variants for accurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and reporting, especially when conditions range from typical fever patterns to life-threatening cerebral involvement.