ICD-10 Guide

Tinea Capitis

ICD-10 Coding for Tinea Capitis(B35.0)

PRIMARY SPECIALTYDermatology

COMPLEXITYHigh

LAST UPDATED09/15/2025

Sam Tuffun, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist | Medical Coding & Billing Contributor

Diagnosis Overview

What is Tinea Capitis?

Essential facts and insights about Tinea Capitis

Key Clinical Considerations:

Scaly patches on the scalp, hair loss, and pruritus
KOH preparation showing hyphae and spores, fungal culture
Alopecia areas with broken hair shafts and erythema

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

Patient history of symptoms, physical exam findings, and diagnostic test results
ICD-10-CM terminology: Tinea capitis, dermatophyte infection
Example: 'Patient presents with scaly patches and hair loss consistent with tinea capitis.'

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

Follow guidelines for appropriate code selection based on clinical findings.
Common errors include misclassifying tinea capitis as other dermatophyte infections.

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

Seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, and other scalp conditions
B36.9 - Other superficial fungal infections

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Dermatology

Specialty Applications

Pediatric and adult populations, outpatient and inpatient settings

Coding Complexity

High Complexity

This diagnosis requires careful attention to:

Comprehensive clinical documentation
Accurate code selection based on clinical criteria
Proper exclusion considerations
Specialty-specific coding guidelines

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

Ensure proper documentation for billing
Verify code specificity requirements
Check for any additional codes needed
Review payer-specific guidelines

Common Issues

Insufficient clinical documentation
Incorrect code selection
Missing supporting diagnoses
Timing and frequency documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

Documentation requirements?

Include patient history, physical exam, and lab results.

Billing considerations?

Ensure accurate coding to avoid claim denials.

Tinea Capitis

Diagnosis Overview

Key Clinical Considerations:

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

Related ICD-10 Codes

Related CPT Codes

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Specialty Applications

Coding Complexity

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

Common Issues

Frequently Asked Questions

Documentation requirements?

Billing considerations?

Tinea Capitis

Diagnosis Overview

Key Clinical Considerations:

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

Related ICD-10 Codes

Related CPT Codes

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Specialty Applications

Coding Complexity

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

Common Issues

Frequently Asked Questions

Documentation requirements?

Billing considerations?