Bitten by rat, sequela

This code indicates a health condition or complication that arises as a direct result of a rat bite, occurring after the initial injury has healed or stabilized. It signifies a long-term effect or residual problem stemming from the original bite, rather than the acute injury itself.

Apply this code when documenting a patient presenting with a chronic issue, such as a persistent infection, scar tissue complications, nerve damage, or psychological sequelae, that is directly attributable to a past rat bite. This code is appropriate for follow-up encounters addressing these lasting effects.

• Always sequence this code after the code for the specific sequela (e.g., L90.5 for scar conditions, G58.9 for mononeuropathy).
• Ensure documentation clearly links the current condition to a previous rat bite.
• Do not use this code for the initial acute rat bite injury; use the acute rat bite code (W53.11XA) for that encounter.