Colic

This code represents infantile colic, a common condition characterized by recurrent, prolonged periods of unexplained crying or fussiness in an otherwise healthy infant. It typically manifests in the first few months of life and resolves spontaneously.

Assign this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of colic in an infant. This diagnosis is often made based on the "rule of threes": crying for more than three hours a day, three days a week, for at least three weeks. Ensure other potential causes for crying (e.g., infection, reflux) have been ruled out.

• Do not use this code for abdominal pain in older children or adults; consider codes from the 789.0x series for those scenarios.
• This is a symptom code; if an underlying cause for the infant's crying is identified (e.g., gastroesophageal reflux), code the specific condition first, followed by this code if colic is also documented.
• Ensure the patient's age is consistent with an infantile colic diagnosis.