Unspecified jaundice (R17)
ICD-10 code R17 is used to identify cases of unspecified jaundice, a condition characterized by the yellowing of the skin and eyes due to elevated bilirubin levels. This code applies when the cause of jaundice is not clearly determined.
Unspecified jaundice covers a variety of situations where patients show signs such as a jaundiced appearance of the face and limbs or bilirubin levels above the normal reference range, but without a definitive diagnosis pointing to a specific type or cause. It includes conditions like cholestatic jaundice caused by drugs, acute cholestatic jaundice syndrome, and inherited or postoperative forms of jaundice. Sometimes, it may refer to cases of obstructive hyperbilirubinemia or hepatocellular jaundice when exact origins are not documented. This ICD-10 code for unspecified jaundice helps medical coders and healthcare professionals document patients’ symptoms when biliary or liver-related issues present but remain undiagnosed.
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.
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.
Jaundice
A clinical manifestation of HYPERBILIRUBINEMIA, characterized by the yellowish staining of the SKIN; MUCOUS MEMBRANE; and SCLERA. Clinical jaundice usually is a sign of LIVER dysfunction.
Jaundice, Chronic Idiopathic
A benign, autosomally recessive inherited hyperbilirubinemia characterized by the presence of a dark pigment in the centrilobular region of the liver cells. There is a functional defect in biliary excretion of bilirubin, cholephilic dyes, and porphyrins. Affected persons may be asymptomatic or have vague constitutional or gastrointestinal symptoms. The liver may be slightly enlarged, and oral and intravenous cholangiography fails to visualize the biliary tract.
Jaundice, Neonatal
Yellow discoloration of the SKIN; MUCOUS MEMBRANE; and SCLERA in the NEWBORN. It is a sign of NEONATAL HYPERBILIRUBINEMIA. Most cases are transient self-limiting (PHYSIOLOGICAL NEONATAL JAUNDICE) occurring in the first week of life, but some can be a sign of pathological disorders, particularly LIVER DISEASES.
Jaundice, Obstructive
Jaundice, the condition with yellowish staining of the skin and mucous membranes, that is due to impaired BILE flow in the BILIARY TRACT, such as INTRAHEPATIC CHOLESTASIS, or EXTRAHEPATIC CHOLESTASIS.
Weil Disease
A severe form of LEPTOSPIROSIS, usually caused by LEPTOSPIRA INTERROGANS SEROVAR ICTEROHAEMORRHAGIAE and occasionally other serovars. It is transmitted to humans by the rat and is characterized by hemorrhagic and renal symptoms with accompanying JAUNDICE.
