Late effects of viral encephalitis

This code signifies residual neurological or psychological sequelae that persist after a patient has recovered from the acute phase of a viral encephalitis infection. These effects are not the active infection itself but rather the long-term consequences of the brain inflammation.

Assign this code when documentation clearly indicates a patient is experiencing chronic or permanent conditions directly attributable to a past viral encephalitis. This includes cognitive deficits, motor impairments, epilepsy, or behavioral changes that developed subsequent to the acute illness.

• Always sequence this code after the specific manifestation code describing the late effect (e.g., epilepsy, hemiplegia).
• Do not use this code for active viral encephalitis; instead, use codes from categories 049-066.
• Ensure the medical record explicitly links the current condition to a prior viral encephalitis diagnosis.