Western equine encephalitis

This code represents an acute arboviral infection affecting the central nervous system, specifically caused by the Western equine encephalitis virus. It typically manifests as encephalitis, characterized by inflammation of the brain, and can range from mild febrile illness to severe neurological dysfunction.

Use this code for confirmed cases of Western equine encephalitis, typically diagnosed through serological testing or viral isolation from CSF. Documentation should clearly indicate the diagnosis of Western equine encephalitis, often following exposure to infected mosquitoes in endemic areas.

• Ensure documentation specifies "Western equine" to differentiate from other forms of encephalitis.
• Consider additional codes for specific neurological manifestations or complications, such as seizures or paralysis.
• This is a legacy ICD-9-CM code; for current coding, refer to the appropriate ICD-10-CM equivalent.