A38
Header — not billableScarlet fever
The ICD-10 code for scarlet fever is A38.
A38 is a non-billable header code. It groups related conditions but cannot be used on its own for reimbursement — select one of the 4 more specific codes below.
Clinical notes
Excludes2 (not included here)
An Excludes2 note means the excluded condition is not part of this one, but a patient can have both at the same time — in that case both codes may be reported together.
- streptococcal sore throat (J02.0)
Includes
Terms listed here further define or give examples of the conditions grouped under this code — they describe what the code covers, not a separate diagnosis.
- scarlatina
Documentation support
General coding-documentation guidance — not a substitute for payer-specific requirements or professional coding judgment.
- •This is a non-billable header code. Documentation must support a more specific child code before this diagnosis can be reported on a claim.
- •As a general rule, code to the highest level of specificity supported by the documentation in the medical record.
Related codes in this category
- A30Leprosy [Hansen's disease]non-billable header
- A31Infection due to other mycobacterianon-billable header
- A32Listeriosisnon-billable header
- A33Tetanus neonatorum
- A34Obstetrical tetanus
- A35Other tetanus
- A36Diphtherianon-billable header
- A37Whooping coughnon-billable header
- A39Meningococcal infectionnon-billable header
- A40Streptococcal sepsisnon-billable header
- A41Other sepsisnon-billable header
- A42Actinomycosisnon-billable header
- A43Nocardiosisnon-billable header
- A44Bartonellosisnon-billable header
- A46Erysipelas
- A48Other bacterial diseases, not elsewhere classifiednon-billable header
- A49Bacterial infection of unspecified sitenon-billable header
- A38Scarlet fevernon-billable header