A50.40

What This Code Means

This code describes syphilis that was passed from mother to child before birth and is now causing problems with the nervous system, but the specific type of nerve damage is not specified. It typically appears years or decades after birth when the infection damages the brain, spinal cord, or nerves.

Coding Tips

• •Verify documentation specifies 'late' congenital neurosyphilis (typically occurring after age 2) rather than early congenital syphilis to ensure correct code selection
• •If the specific manifestation of neurosyphilis is documented (such as general paresis, tabes dorsalis, or optic atrophy), use a more specific code from the A50.4x subcategory instead of the unspecified code