Late congenital syphilitic polyneuropathy

This code signifies a neurological complication of congenital syphilis, specifically polyneuropathy, which manifests in later stages of the disease. It indicates nerve damage affecting multiple peripheral nerves, resulting from a syphilitic infection acquired before birth that presents clinically after the neonatal period.

Use this code when documentation clearly states a diagnosis of polyneuropathy as a late manifestation of congenital syphilis. This typically applies to patients who were born with syphilis but whose neurological symptoms, such as weakness, numbness, or pain in multiple limbs, develop years after birth. Supporting documentation should include a confirmed history of congenital syphilis and neurological findings consistent with polyneuropathy.

• Ensure documentation specifies "late" congenital syphilis and clearly links the polyneuropathy to the syphilitic infection.
• Do not confuse with polyneuropathy from other causes; the etiology must be congenital syphilis.
• Sequence this code as a primary diagnosis when the polyneuropathy is the reason for the encounter, or as a secondary diagnosis when it is a co-morbidity.