Zoster meningitis

This code represents inflammation of the meninges (the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord) caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which is the same virus that causes chickenpox and shingles. It is a neurological complication of herpes zoster infection, indicating viral invasion of the central nervous system.

Assign this code when documentation explicitly states a diagnosis of meningitis due to herpes zoster. This typically occurs in patients with a history of shingles who develop neurological symptoms such as headache, fever, and nuchal rigidity, with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis confirming VZV infection.

• Do not use this code for meningitis due to other viral etiologies; specify the causative agent when known.
• Consider sequencing this code after the code for the underlying herpes zoster if the meningitis is a direct complication.
• Ensure documentation clearly links the meningitis to a zoster infection, often supported by CSF PCR for VZV.