Mild persistent asthma with (acute) exacerbation

This code signifies a chronic respiratory condition characterized by mild, ongoing asthma symptoms that are present more than twice a week but not daily, and more than twice a month at night. The "with exacerbation" component indicates an acute worsening of these baseline asthma symptoms, requiring immediate medical intervention.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states "mild persistent asthma" and explicitly mentions an "acute exacerbation" or "acute asthma attack." This typically occurs when a patient with known mild persistent asthma presents with increased wheezing, shortness of breath, or cough that is beyond their usual baseline.

• Always ensure the documentation specifies "mild persistent" and not another severity level (e.g., intermittent, moderate, severe).
• Do not use this code if the exacerbation is not explicitly documented; instead, use the code for mild persistent asthma without exacerbation.
• Consider sequencing this code as the primary diagnosis if the exacerbation is the reason for the encounter.