Ciguatera fish poisoning, intentional self-harm, init encntr

This code signifies a case of poisoning specifically from ciguatera-contaminated fish where the patient intentionally ingested the substance with the intent to harm themselves. Ciguatera poisoning manifests with a range of gastrointestinal, neurological, and cardiovascular symptoms. The "initial encounter" indicates the patient is receiving active treatment for the acute effects of this self-inflicted poisoning.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states ciguatera fish poisoning as the cause of the patient's symptoms and explicitly indicates the ingestion was an act of intentional self-harm. This is appropriate for the first time the patient presents for treatment of this specific poisoning episode. It would be used in emergency department visits, initial hospital admissions, or outpatient encounters for the acute management of the poisoning.

• Ensure documentation explicitly states "intentional self-harm" or similar language to support the intent.
• Always code an additional external cause code (e.g., X61.XXXA) to provide further detail on the intent and circumstances.
• Do not use this code for accidental ciguatera poisoning; refer to T61.01XA for unintentional exposure.