Visceral [kala-azar] leishmaniasis

This code represents visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar, a severe systemic parasitic infection caused by Leishmania donovani. It is characterized by fever, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, pancytopenia, and weight loss, often leading to death if untreated. The parasite infects macrophages in various organs, particularly the spleen, liver, and bone marrow.

Use this code for confirmed diagnoses of visceral leishmaniasis, typically supported by laboratory findings such as identification of Leishmania amastigotes in tissue biopsies (e.g., bone marrow, spleen, liver) or positive serological tests. Documentation should clearly indicate the systemic nature of the infection affecting internal organs.

• Differentiate from cutaneous or mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, which are coded separately.
• Ensure documentation specifies the visceral form to avoid miscoding with other leishmaniasis types.
• Consider sequencing this code as the primary diagnosis when it is the reason for the encounter.