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Pediatric Coding Alert

READER QUESTIONS:

Stick With 075 for EBV

Published on Sat Jan 27, 2007

Question: Should I code Epstein-Barr with new 2008 code 058.89 (Other human herpesvirus infection)?


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Answer: No, you should code Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection as 075 (Infectious mononucleosis). Ingenix includes "Definition: Acute infection by Epstein-Barr virus" following the code, which indicates that this ICD-9 code appropriately describes EBV infection.

Although EBV is in the herpes virus family, you should not code it to the 058 subcategory (Other human herpesvirus). In fact, an "excludes" note at 058 indicates that this classification does not include Epstein-Barr virus. The note directs you to 075 for EBV.
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