Personal history of systemic steroid therapy

This code indicates a patient's past use of systemic corticosteroids, which are medications that affect the entire body to reduce inflammation or suppress the immune system. It signifies that the patient has previously undergone a course of treatment with drugs like prednisone, dexamethasone, or hydrocortisone.

This code is used when documenting a patient's medical history to indicate prior systemic steroid exposure. It is relevant when the past steroid use may impact current treatment decisions, influence diagnostic considerations, or contribute to potential long-term side effects. It is often reported in conjunction with the primary condition for which the steroids were prescribed.

• This code is for personal history only; it should not be used for current steroid therapy.
• Always sequence this code as a secondary diagnosis, following the code for the condition being treated or the reason for the encounter.
• Do not use this code if the patient is currently receiving systemic steroids; instead, code the specific drug or encounter for medication management if applicable.