B74.3

What This Code Means

Loiasis is a parasitic infection caused by a worm that lives in the bloodstream and tissues, transmitted through the bite of infected flies, primarily affecting people in Africa and parts of Asia. The infection can cause swelling, itching, and the visible movement of the worm under the skin.

Coding Tips

• •Loiasis is an infectious disease that requires documentation of the specific site of infection if applicable, as the worm can migrate to various body locations including the eye (subconjunctival space)
• •This code is typically used for patients with a history of travel to endemic regions or those presenting with characteristic symptoms like Calabar swellings (transient subcutaneous swellings) or eye involvement