Dietary selenium deficiency

This code identifies a nutritional disorder resulting from insufficient intake or absorption of selenium, an essential trace element. Selenium deficiency can manifest with various symptoms affecting muscle function, cardiac health, and immune response, and is often associated with specific geographic regions or malabsorptive conditions.

Assign this code when documentation explicitly states a diagnosis of dietary selenium deficiency. This typically occurs in patients presenting with symptoms attributable to low selenium levels, confirmed by laboratory testing showing decreased serum or plasma selenium concentrations.

• Ensure documentation specifies "dietary" deficiency to differentiate from other causes.
• Do not code this alongside E64.8 (sequelae of selenium deficiency); choose the appropriate code based on whether the deficiency is active or a historical cause of current problems.
• Look for supporting documentation such as dietary history, lab results (e.g., low serum selenium), and clinical signs consistent with deficiency.