Toxic effect of fish and shellfish eaten as food

This code signifies adverse health effects resulting from the ingestion of fish or shellfish contaminated with toxins, bacteria, or viruses, or containing naturally occurring poisons. It encompasses conditions like ciguatera poisoning, scombroid poisoning, paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP), and diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP). The toxic effect is directly attributable to the consumption of seafood.

Apply this code when a patient presents with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, neurological deficits, or allergic-like reactions directly linked to eating fish or shellfish. Documentation should clearly state the patient consumed seafood and subsequently developed signs and symptoms consistent with foodborne illness or poisoning. A definitive diagnosis of a specific seafood-related toxicity, or strong clinical suspicion based on history, supports its use.

• Differentiate from allergic reactions to fish/shellfish (which would be coded under allergic reactions, not toxic effects).
• Always sequence this code as the primary diagnosis when it is the reason for the encounter.
• Ensure documentation specifies "toxic effect" rather than simply "food poisoning" to accurately reflect the seafood origin.