Noninfective neonatal diarrhea

This code signifies diarrhea in a newborn that is not caused by an infectious agent. It describes a condition characterized by frequent, loose, or watery stools in a neonate, where bacterial, viral, or parasitic etiologies have been ruled out.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates neonatal diarrhea of non-infectious origin, such as that caused by dietary intolerance, malabsorption, or transient digestive immaturity. Supporting documentation should explicitly state "noninfective" or rule out infectious causes through laboratory testing.

• Ensure documentation specifies "neonatal" (birth to 28 days) to differentiate from diarrhea in older infants.
• Do not use this code if an infectious agent is identified; instead, code the specific infectious diarrhea.
• Consider additional codes for underlying causes, such as specific food intolerances (e.g., lactose intolerance) if documented.