Feeding difficulties and mismanagement

This code represents a range of issues related to an individual's inability or difficulty in consuming adequate nutrition, often due to problems with the feeding process itself rather than an underlying organic disease. It encompasses problems such as poor suck, difficulty swallowing, refusal to eat, or behavioral issues impacting food intake.

Use this code for patients presenting with non-specific feeding problems, particularly in infants and young children, where a more definitive organic cause has not yet been identified or ruled out. Documentation should clearly describe the feeding difficulty, such as "poor feeding," "feeding aversion," or "difficulty latching."

• Do not use this code if a more specific diagnosis for the feeding difficulty (e.g., dysphagia due to neurological disorder, cleft palate) is known.
• Consider sequencing this code as a secondary diagnosis if the primary reason for the encounter is another condition that is exacerbated by or contributing to the feeding difficulty.
• Distinguish from codes for malnutrition (e.g., 263.x) which indicate the result of inadequate intake, whereas this code describes the difficulty in feeding.