Diarrhea, unspecified

This code represents a general diagnosis of diarrhea when the specific cause or type is not documented. It indicates an increase in the frequency, fluidity, or volume of bowel movements without further clinical detail regarding etiology or chronicity.

This code is appropriate when the medical record clearly states "diarrhea" but lacks information to classify it further, such as acute, chronic, infectious, or functional. It can be used when a more specific diagnosis is not yet determined or is not clinically relevant for the encounter.

• Avoid using this code if documentation supports a more specific diagnosis (e.g., infectious diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea).
• Review "Excludes1" notes carefully; never code this alongside functional, neonatal, or psychogenic diarrhea.
• Query the provider for more specific information if available, especially for persistent or recurrent diarrhea.