Latent yaws

Latent yaws is a stage of yaws infection where the patient exhibits no active clinical manifestations but serological tests for yaws are positive. The infection remains dormant within the body, capable of reactivating into active yaws lesions or being transmitted congenitally.

This code is used when a patient has a confirmed history of yaws infection but is currently asymptomatic, with serological evidence indicating the presence of the Treponema pallidum pertenue bacterium. Documentation should explicitly state "latent yaws" or describe a patient with positive yaws serology without active lesions.

• Do not use this code for active yaws lesions; refer to codes for early or late yaws.
• Ensure documentation clearly distinguishes latent yaws from latent syphilis, as both are treponemal infections.
• Consider co-morbidities or complications if the patient presents with any related conditions, even if the yaws itself is latent.