Adverse effect of unspecified topical agent

Not billableICD-10-CM diagnosis code.

This code exists but cannot be submitted on its own. It groups the more specific codes beneath it.

A category header for its whole life, FY2016 onwards. It has never been valid for submission on its own.

Submit one of these 3 more specific codes instead:

T49.95XA Adverse effect of unspecified topical agent, initial encounter
T49.95XD Adverse effect of unspecified topical agent, subsequent encounter
T49.95XS Adverse effect of unspecified topical agent, sequela

This code requires a seventh character. See the rule below.

What has happened to this code

Every change the publisher made, from 2014 to now. Entries marked draft are from the pre-implementation releases: ICD-10 took effect on 1 October 2015, so nothing before FY2016 was ever valid on a claim.

FY2014 Added to the draft code set draft Adverse effect of unspecified topical agent

Official coding rules

Published by CDC for FY2027. A rule attached to a category binds every code beneath it, so the rules inherited from this code's ancestors are shown with the code they come from.

Inherited from T49 Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of topical agents primarily affecting skin and mucous membrane and by ophthalmological, otorhinorlaryngological and dental drugs

Seventh character required

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T49

Includes

poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of glucocorticoids, topically used

Inherited from the T36-T50 section Poisoning by, adverse effects of and underdosing of drugs, medicaments and biological substances (T36-T50)

Excludes1 - never coded here

toxic reaction to local anesthesia in pregnancy (O29.3-)

Excludes2 - not included here

abuse and dependence of psychoactive substances (F10-F19)
abuse of non-dependence-producing substances (F55.-)
immunodeficiency due to drugs (D84.821)
drug reaction and poisoning affecting newborn (P00-P96)
pathological drug intoxication (inebriation) (F10-F19)

Use additional code

code(s) to specify:
manifestations of poisoning
underdosing or failure in dosage during medical and surgical care (Y63.6, Y63.8-Y63.9)
underdosing of medication regimen (Z91.12-, Z91.13-)

Code first

, for adverse effects, the nature of the adverse effect, such as:
adverse effect NOS (T88.7)
aspirin gastritis (K29.-)
blood disorders (D56-D76)
contact dermatitis (L23-L25)
dermatitis due to substances taken internally (L27.-)
nephropathy (N14.0-N14.2)

Includes

adverse effect of correct substance properly administered
poisoning by overdose of substance
poisoning by wrong substance given or taken in error
underdosing by (inadvertently) (deliberately) taking less substance than prescribed or instructed

Note

The drug giving rise to the adverse effect should be identified by use of codes from categories T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5.

How CDC's index refers to this code

Wording from the official alphabetic index. Much of it appears nowhere in the code description, which is why a search for the everyday phrase so often finds nothing.

Lotions NEC
Liniments NEC
Skin > agents
External medications
Mucous membrane agents
Topical action drug NEC
Topical action drug NEC > skin

Codes in the same group

Code	Description	Status
T49.91	Poisoning by unspecified topical agent, accidental (unintentional)	Not billable
T49.92	Poisoning by unspecified topical agent, intentional self-harm	Not billable
T49.93	Poisoning by unspecified topical agent, assault	Not billable
T49.94	Poisoning by unspecified topical agent, undetermined	Not billable
T49.96	Underdosing of unspecified topical agent	Not billable