Typhus fever due to Rickettsia tsutsugamushi

This code represents Scrub Typhus, an acute febrile illness caused by the bacterium Rickettsia tsutsugamushi. It is characterized by fever, headache, myalgia, and often a distinctive eschar at the site of the chigger bite. The disease can lead to severe complications affecting multiple organ systems if left untreated.

Use this code for confirmed cases of Scrub Typhus where laboratory testing (e.g., PCR, serology) or strong epidemiological and clinical evidence points to Rickettsia tsutsugamushi as the causative agent. Documentation should clearly indicate a diagnosis of Scrub Typhus and ideally mention the specific pathogen.

• Ensure documentation specifies Rickettsia tsutsugamushi as the etiology; otherwise, a more general typhus code might be appropriate.
• Do not confuse with other forms of typhus (e.g., epidemic, murine) which are caused by different Rickettsia species and have distinct codes.
• Code any associated manifestations or complications (e.g., pneumonia, myocarditis) separately, following sequencing guidelines for infectious diseases.