Exanthema subitum [sixth disease] due to human herpesvirus 6

This code identifies roseola infantum, also known as sixth disease, a common, mild viral illness primarily affecting infants and young children. It is characterized by a high fever that typically resolves abruptly, followed by the appearance of a non-itchy, maculopapular rash. The causative agent for this specific code is human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6).

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of exanthema subitum or roseola infantum, and specifically attributes the infection to human herpesvirus 6. This diagnosis is often made clinically based on the characteristic fever-then-rash presentation in pediatric patients.

• Ensure the documentation explicitly states HHV-6 as the etiology; otherwise, an unspecified roseola code might be more appropriate.
• Do not confuse with other viral exanthems like measles (B05.x) or rubella (B06.x), which have distinct clinical presentations and etiologies.
• This code is typically a primary diagnosis for the acute illness.