ICD-10 Guide

Viral Exanthem

ICD-10 Coding for Viral Exanthem(B09, B08.20)

PRIMARY SPECIALTYPediatrics

COMPLEXITYHigh

LAST UPDATED09/15/2025

Sam Tuffun, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist | Medical Coding & Billing Contributor

Diagnosis Overview

What is Viral Exanthem?

Essential facts and insights about Viral Exanthem

Key Clinical Considerations:

Fever, rash, and other systemic symptoms
Serological tests for specific viral infections (e.g., measles, rubella)
Rash characteristics (maculopapular, vesicular) and distribution

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

Patient history including onset and duration of symptoms
Specific terminology for viral exanthems (e.g., measles, roseola)
Examples of documented cases with symptom progression and treatment

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

Follow guidelines for distinguishing between viral exanthems and other rashes.
Common errors include misclassifying the type of viral infection.

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

Non-viral rashes (e.g., allergic reactions, bacterial infections)
Alternative codes for specific viral infections not classified as exanthems

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Pediatrics

Specialty Applications

Pediatric patients, particularly infants and young children
Outpatient clinics, emergency departments, 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 detailed symptom history, onset, and rash description.

Billing considerations?

Ensure correct ICD codes are used based on specific viral etiology.

Viral Exanthem

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?

Viral Exanthem

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?