Allergic rhinitis due to food

This code signifies an inflammatory condition of the nasal passages, characterized by symptoms such as sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, and itching, specifically triggered by exposure to food allergens. It represents an IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reaction where food acts as the causative agent.

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates allergic rhinitis symptoms directly attributable to the ingestion or contact with specific food items. This diagnosis requires a confirmed link between food exposure and the onset of nasal allergic symptoms, often supported by patient history, allergy testing, or elimination diets.

• Ensure documentation specifies "allergic rhinitis" and explicitly links it to "food" as the allergen.
• Do not use for non-allergic rhinitis or rhinitis due to other environmental allergens (e.g., pollen, dust mites).
• Consider additional codes for specific food allergies (e.g., 995.6x for anaphylactic reaction to food, if applicable and documented).