Contact with or exposure to rabies

This code signifies a patient's documented exposure to the rabies virus, typically through a bite or scratch from a potentially rabid animal, or contact with infected saliva. It indicates the need for medical evaluation and potential post-exposure prophylaxis, even if symptoms have not yet developed.

Use this code when a patient presents with a history of contact with an animal suspected or confirmed to be rabid, or when there's a reasonable suspicion of rabies exposure. This includes animal bites, scratches, or other direct contact with saliva from wild animals (e.g., bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes) or unvaccinated domestic animals.

• Do not use this code for confirmed rabies infection; use a code from category 071.
• Always code the nature of the injury (e.g., bite, scratch) and the external cause (e.g., E906.0 for animal bite) in addition to the exposure code.
• Ensure documentation specifies the animal involved and the nature of the contact to support the exposure.