Understanding ICD-10: A Comprehensive Guide
International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition (ICD-10) is a globally recognized medical classification list by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is used for coding and classifying diseases, signs and symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances, and external causes of injury or diseases. This guide will delve into the intricacies of ICD-10, its structure, and its significance in healthcare.
Structure of ICD-10
ICD-10 is organized into three main sections: the Alphabetical Index, the Tabular List, and the Classification of External Causes of Injury and Diseases. The Tabular List is the core of ICD-10, containing the detailed classification of diseases and related health conditions. It is divided into chapters, each focusing on a specific category of diseases or conditions.
| Chapter | Description |
|---|---|
| A00-B99 | Some infectious and parasitic diseases |
| C00-D48 | Cancer |
| D50-D89 | Blood and blood-forming organs diseases and certain disorders involving the immune mechanism |
| E00-E90 | Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases |
| F00-F99 | Mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental disorders |
| G00-G99 | Nervous system diseases |
| H00-H59 | Eye and adnexa diseases |
| H60-H95 | Ear and mastoid diseases |
| I00-I99 | Circulatory system diseases |
| J00-J99 | Respiratory system diseases |
| K00-K93 | Digestive system diseases |
| L00-L99 | Skin and subcutaneous tissue diseases |
| M00-M99 | Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue diseases |
| N00-N99 | Genitourinary system diseases |
| O00-O99 | Pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium complications |
| P00-P96 | Perinatal conditions |
| Q00-Q99 | Congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities |
| R00-R99 | Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified |
| S00-T98 | Injuries, poisoning, and certain other consequences of external causes |
| V01-Y89 | External causes of injury and diseases |
| Z00-Z99 | Factors influencing health status and contact with health services |
ICD-10 Coding System
ICD-10 uses a six-character alphanumeric code to classify diseases and health conditions. The first three characters represent the chapter, the next two characters represent the category, and the last character represents the specific condition. For example, ICD-10 code J15.9 represents community-acquired pneumonia.
Significance of ICD-10
ICD-10 plays a crucial role in
