Contact w and exposure to harmful algae and algae toxins

This code indicates a patient has had direct or indirect contact with harmful algae or their toxins, or there is a suspicion of such exposure. This exposure can lead to various health effects, ranging from skin irritation and respiratory issues to more severe systemic poisoning, depending on the type of algae and the route of exposure.

Use this code when a patient presents with symptoms potentially related to harmful algal bloom exposure, or when there is documented contact with water or food known or suspected to contain harmful algae or their toxins, even if asymptomatic. This includes situations like swimming in affected waters, consuming contaminated seafood, or inhaling airborne toxins.

• Always code to the highest level of specificity; if the specific type of harmful algae or toxin is known, use a more precise code if available.
• This code is for exposure; if a definitive diagnosis of an illness caused by algal toxins is made, code the specific condition (e.g., paralytic shellfish poisoning) as the primary diagnosis, and this code as a secondary code to indicate the exposure.
• Do not use this code for environmental monitoring or public health reporting without a patient encounter.