Paresthesia of skin

This code represents an abnormal sensation of the skin, such as tingling, prickling, numbness, or burning, without an apparent physical cause. It indicates a sensory disturbance that is typically transient or chronic and can affect any part of the body.

Apply this code when documentation specifies a patient experiencing paresthesia, and a more specific neurological or systemic cause has not been definitively diagnosed or is not being coded. This is appropriate for idiopathic paresthesia or when the underlying etiology is unknown or unspecified.

• Do not use this code if the paresthesia is specifically identified as acroparesthesia (e.g., tingling in the extremities due to vascular compression).
• Always seek to code the underlying cause of the paresthesia if known and documented (e.g., diabetic neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome).
• This code is often used as a secondary diagnosis when the primary diagnosis is a condition that commonly presents with paresthesia.