Poisoning by antiviral drugs

This code signifies an adverse health event resulting from the toxic effects of antiviral medications. It covers both accidental and intentional overdoses, as well as adverse reactions to therapeutic doses that manifest as poisoning. The patient's symptoms are directly attributable to the pharmacological properties of the antiviral agent.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a patient is experiencing poisoning specifically due to an antiviral drug. This includes scenarios like acute renal failure from acyclovir overdose, severe hepatotoxicity from antiretrovirals, or neurological symptoms following ganciclovir administration. Supporting documentation should detail the antiviral agent involved, the nature of the poisoning, and the patient's clinical presentation.

• Always identify the specific antiviral drug involved if possible, using an E-code for external cause.
• Distinguish between poisoning (adverse effect due to toxicity) and adverse effect in therapeutic use (non-toxic reaction), which would typically be coded differently.
• Sequence this code as the primary diagnosis when it is the reason for the encounter, followed by codes for specific manifestations of the poisoning.