Acute alcoholic hepatitis

This code represents an acute inflammatory condition of the liver caused by excessive alcohol consumption. It is characterized by rapid onset of symptoms such as jaundice, fever, abdominal pain, and hepatomegaly, often occurring after a period of heavy drinking. The condition can range from mild to severe, potentially leading to liver failure.

This code is appropriate for patients presenting with new or acutely worsening liver inflammation directly attributable to alcohol use. Documentation should clearly indicate a history of significant alcohol intake and clinical findings consistent with acute hepatitis, such as elevated liver enzymes, bilirubin, and imaging findings. It is often used in emergency department or inpatient settings for initial diagnosis and management.

• Ensure documentation specifies "acute" to differentiate from chronic alcoholic liver disease.
• Do not confuse with alcoholic cirrhosis (571.2) or unspecified alcoholic liver disease (571.3), which represent chronic conditions.
• Always code any associated complications, such as ascites (789.59) or hepatic encephalopathy (572.2), as secondary diagnoses.