Q fever (A78)
ICD-10 code A78 is used specifically to identify Q fever, a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii. This code applies whenever a diagnosis relates to Q fever or its various complications.
Q fever can present under several names and conditions, including acute or chronic Q fever, and may affect different tissues such as the heart (e.g., Q fever myocarditis, pericarditis, endocarditis), lungs (pneumonia in Q fever), liver (bacterial hepatitis, Q fever hepatitis), or nervous system (e.g., meningitis, encephalitis, encephalomyelitis). It can also cause bone infections like osteomyelitis or inflammation of the spinal cord (myelitis). Including these diverse synonyms helps medical coders match clinical terms to the correct ICD-10 code for Q fever, ensuring accurate diagnosis coding for this specific bacterial infection. The ICD-10 code for Q fever (A78) thus covers a spectrum of manifestations caused by Coxiella burnetii, distinguishing these infections from other bacterial illnesses.
Instructional Notations
Inclusion Terms
These terms are the conditions for which that code is to be used. The terms may be synonyms of the code title, or, in the case of "other specified" codes, the terms are a list of the various conditions assigned to that code. The inclusion terms are not necessarily exhaustive. Additional terms found only in the Alphabetic Index may also be assigned to a code.
- Infection due to Coxiella burnetii
- Nine Mile fever
- Quadrilateral fever
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.
Q Fever
An acute infectious disease caused by COXIELLA BURNETII. It is characterized by a sudden onset of FEVER; HEADACHE; malaise; and weakness. In humans, it is commonly contracted by inhalation of infected dusts derived from infected domestic animals (ANIMALS, DOMESTIC).
