Other manifestations of vitamin A deficiency

This code represents various clinical signs and symptoms resulting from insufficient vitamin A intake or absorption, excluding xerophthalmia. These manifestations can include follicular hyperkeratosis (phrynoderma), impaired immune function, or growth retardation. It indicates a systemic impact of vitamin A deficiency beyond ocular involvement.

Use this code when documentation specifies vitamin A deficiency presenting with non-ocular symptoms such as skin lesions, recurrent infections, or failure to thrive, and the provider explicitly links these to the deficiency. It is appropriate when the patient's condition is directly attributable to a lack of vitamin A, and other specific deficiency codes do not apply.

• Do not use this code if the primary manifestation is xerophthalmia; refer to codes within E50.0-E50.7.
• Ensure documentation clearly links the non-ocular symptoms to vitamin A deficiency, rather than other nutritional deficiencies or unrelated conditions.
• Consider sequencing this code as a secondary diagnosis if the primary reason for the encounter is treatment of a specific symptom caused by the deficiency.