A69.21

What This Code Means

This is a serious infection of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord caused by Lyme disease, which is transmitted through tick bites. It occurs when the bacteria that causes Lyme disease spreads to the central nervous system.

Coding Tips

• •Always verify that meningitis is documented as a complication of Lyme disease in the medical record before assigning this code
• •This code should be used in conjunction with A69.20 (Lyme disease of nervous system) or other Lyme disease codes to provide complete clinical picture