Varicella without mention of complication

This code signifies a diagnosis of chickenpox, an acute and highly contagious viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It specifically applies when the infection presents without any documented secondary infections, organ involvement, or other adverse sequelae. The primary manifestation is a characteristic vesicular rash.

Use this code for uncomplicated cases of varicella where the patient exhibits the typical symptoms of chickenpox, such as fever and a pruritic rash, but no further complications are noted in the medical record. This code is appropriate when the physician's documentation explicitly states "varicella" or "chickenpox" and there is no mention of pneumonia, encephalitis, bacterial superinfection, or other complications.

• Do not use this code if any complications, such as varicella pneumonia or bacterial skin infection, are documented; instead, code the specific complication.
• This code is for the active infection; for sequelae of varicella (e.g., postherpetic neuralgia), a different code would be appropriate.
• Ensure documentation clearly states the absence of complications to support the use of this "without mention of complication" code.