Allergic rhinitis due to animal (cat) (dog) hair and dander

This code signifies an inflammatory condition of the nasal passages caused by an allergic reaction specifically to animal dander or hair, such as from cats or dogs. Patients typically experience symptoms like sneezing, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, and itchy nose, eyes, or throat upon exposure to these allergens.

Use this code when documentation clearly states a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis and explicitly identifies animal dander or hair (e.g., cat, dog) as the causative allergen. This diagnosis is often supported by patient history of exposure-related symptoms and may be confirmed by allergy testing.

• Ensure the documentation specifies the animal allergen (e.g., cat, dog) to differentiate from other types of allergic rhinitis.
• Do not use for non-allergic rhinitis or allergic rhinitis due to other environmental allergens (e.g., pollen, dust mites).
• Consider sequencing with codes for associated symptoms if they are not integral to the rhinitis diagnosis or if they require separate management.