Early congenital syphilitic oculopathy

This code signifies eye abnormalities present at birth or developing shortly thereafter due to congenital syphilis. It encompasses various ocular manifestations such as interstitial keratitis, chorioretinitis, or optic atrophy, resulting from transplacental transmission of Treponema pallidum. These conditions are a direct consequence of the syphilitic infection acquired in utero.

Assign this code when documentation confirms an infant or child has ocular pathology directly attributed to congenital syphilis, specifically in its early stages. Supporting documentation should include a confirmed diagnosis of congenital syphilis and specific ophthalmic findings linked to the infection. This code is appropriate for initial presentations and active treatment phases of early congenital syphilitic oculopathy.

• Ensure documentation clearly distinguishes between early and late congenital syphilis, as different codes apply.
• Do not use this code for ocular conditions acquired later in life due to adult-onset syphilis.
• Always sequence this code as a primary diagnosis when it is the reason for the encounter, or as a secondary diagnosis when managing other conditions concurrently.