Urticaria (L50)
ICD-10 codes in the L50 category are specifically used to classify various types of urticaria, a skin condition characterized by wheals or hives. These codes help identify the exact form of urticaria, ranging from allergic reactions to idiopathic or physically induced cases.
The main code L50 covers general urticaria, while subcodes target distinct causes and triggers. For example, L50.0 codes for allergic urticaria, which includes terms like occupational allergic contact urticaria and allergic urticaria caused by food or insect bites. L50.1 identifies idiopathic urticaria, where the cause is unknown. Physical triggers appear in L50.2 and L50.3, describing urticaria due to cold and heat or dermatographic urticaria, respectively. Other types include vibratory urticaria (L50.4), cholinergic urticaria (L50.5), and contact urticaria (L50.6). The code L50.8 captures other specific types such as autoimmune, infectious, or pressure-induced urticaria, also known by synonyms like chronic idiopathic urticaria and autoimmune urticaria. Lastly, L50.9 denotes unspecified urticaria, used when the exact cause or type is unknown.
These ICD-10 codes support precise documentation and treatment of urticaria variants, aiding medical coders and clinicians in selecting the accurate ICD-10 code for urticaria based on clinical presentation and etiology.
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.
- allergic contact dermatitis L23
- angioneurotic edema T78.3
- giant urticaria T78.3
- hereditary angio-edema D84.1
- Quincke's edema T78.3
- serum urticaria T80.6
- solar urticaria L56.3
- urticaria neonatorum P83.8
- urticaria papulosa L28.2
- urticaria pigmentosa D47.01
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.
Angioedema
Swelling involving the deep DERMIS, subcutaneous, or submucosal tissues, representing localized EDEMA. Angioedema often occurs in the face, lips, tongue, and larynx.
Chronic Inducible Urticaria
Chronic urticaria with identified triggering factor which is either physical, e.g., vibratory urticaria, or non-physical, e.g., aquagenic urticaria.
Chronic Urticaria
Wheals (urticaria) and/or angioedema presented with daily symptoms lasting for more than 6 weeks. It may be classified into chronic spontaneous and chronic inducible urticaria depending on whether a specific trigger can be linked to the development of vascular reaction.
Cold Urticaria
Various skin flares developing after exposure to cold temperature. While most are characterized by a limited episodic cutaneous condition characterized by URTICARIAL WHEALS, such as in allergic urticaria, other types are more severe and generalized and rarely familial, e.g., cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes.
Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes
A group of rare autosomal dominant diseases, commonly characterized by atypical URTICARIA (hives) with systemic symptoms that develop into end-organ damage. The atypical hives do not involve T-cell or autoantibody. Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome includes three previously distinct disorders: Familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome; Muckle-Wells Syndrome; and CINCA Syndrome, that are now considered to represent a disease continuum, all caused by NLRP3 PROTEIN mutations.
Exercise-Induced Allergies
Allergic reactions following a period of exercise. Elevated serum HISTAMINE and TRYPTASE levels and cutaneous MAST CELL degranulation are often associated with post-exertional allergic reactions which sometimes are triggered only in combination with prior consumption of a specific food such as wheat. Allergic symptoms produced post-exercise range from skin eruption, asthma, bronchospasm, and anaphylaxis.
Urticaria
A vascular reaction of the skin characterized by erythema and wheal formation due to localized increase of vascular permeability. The causative mechanism may be allergy, infection, or stress.
Urticaria Pigmentosa
The most common form of cutaneous mastocytosis (MASTOCYTOSIS, CUTANEOUS) that occurs primarily in children. It is characterized by the multiple small reddish-brown pigmented pruritic macules and papules.
Urticaria, Solar
Chromophore-dependent photodermatosis triggered by UV and visible light.
