Whooping cough due to Bordetella pertussis without pneumonia

This code signifies a bacterial respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough. The infection is characterized by severe, paroxysmal coughing fits followed by a characteristic "whooping" sound during inspiration, but without evidence of lung inflammation.

Apply this code when documentation confirms a diagnosis of pertussis due to Bordetella pertussis and explicitly states that pneumonia is not present. This typically applies to the catarrhal and paroxysmal stages of the disease before any pulmonary complications arise. Supporting documentation includes positive laboratory tests for Bordetella pertussis or a definitive clinical diagnosis by a physician.

• Ensure documentation explicitly rules out pneumonia; if pneumonia is present, a different code is required.
• Do not use this code for pertussis due to other Bordetella species; specific codes exist for those cases.
• Consider sequencing this code as the primary diagnosis when it is the reason for the encounter.