A68.1

What This Code Means

Tick-borne relapsing fever is an infectious disease transmitted through the bite of infected ticks, characterized by recurring episodes of fever, chills, and body aches. The fever typically comes and goes in cycles as the bacteria evades the immune system.

Coding Tips

• •Verify the documentation specifies 'tick-borne' relapsing fever (A68.1) rather than louse-borne relapsing fever (A68.0), as the vector type is clinically and epidemiologically important
• •Ensure the diagnosis is confirmed by the provider; relapsing fever requires specific laboratory testing or clinical documentation linking symptoms to tick exposure in endemic areas