G93.7

HCC Category Mapping

What This Code Means

A rare but serious condition that causes brain and liver inflammation, typically occurring in children after a viral illness and characterized by vomiting, confusion, and seizures.

Coding Tips

• •Always code the associated viral infection separately if documented
• •This is a reportable condition in many jurisdictions; verify reporting requirements

Clinical Significance

Reye's syndrome is a rare but serious condition primarily affecting children and teenagers, characterized by acute non-inflammatory encephalopathy and fatty liver degeneration, often following viral illness with aspirin use. While now rare due to public health warnings about aspirin use in children, it remains a critical diagnosis with high mortality and significant long-term neurological morbidity in survivors. Documentation of this condition reflects historical or ongoing sequelae requiring monitoring.

Documentation Requirements

• ✓Clinical history of preceding viral illness (influenza, varicella) and aspirin or salicylate exposure
• ✓Laboratory findings including elevated ammonia, elevated transaminases, prolonged prothrombin time
• ✓Clinical staging of encephalopathy severity (Lovejoy staging I-V)
• ✓Imaging and/or liver biopsy findings when available
• ✓Long-term neurological outcome assessment for survivors

Commonly Confused Codes