Whooping cough due to bordetella pertussis [B. pertussis]

This code represents a confirmed diagnosis of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, specifically caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacterium. It describes the acute respiratory infection characterized by paroxysmal cough, inspiratory "whoop," and post-tussive vomiting.

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of pertussis with laboratory confirmation of B. pertussis or strong clinical evidence in an outbreak setting. This is appropriate for initial encounters, follow-up care during the acute phase, or when managing complications directly attributable to the infection.

• Ensure documentation specifies B. pertussis as the causative agent; otherwise, an unspecified pertussis code may be more appropriate.
• Sequence this code as the primary diagnosis when pertussis is the reason for the encounter.
• Code any associated complications, such as pneumonia or seizures, separately and in addition to this code.