ICD 9 Code for Asthma

Asthma is a lung condition in in which the airways constrict, become inflamed, and are lined with excessive amounts of mucus, often in response to one or more triggers like tobacco smoke, allegen.

Symptoms: The airway narrowing causes symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. The airway constriction responds to bronchodilators.

An acute exacerbation of asthma is commonly referred to as an asthma attack.

Severe asthma attacks, which may not be responsive to standard treatments is called status asthmaticus.

Symptomatic control of episodes of wheezing and shortness of breath is generally achieved with bronchodilators which are typically provided in pocket-sized, metered-dose inhalers (MDIs).

A spacer is a plastic cylinder that mixes the medication with air in a simple tube, making it easier for patients to receive a full dose of the drug and allows for the active agent to be dispersed into smaller, more fully inhaled bits.

A nebulizer which provides a larger, continuous dose can also be used. Nebulizers work by vaporizing a dose of medication in a saline solution into a steady stream of foggy vapour, which the patient inhales continuously until the full dosage is administered.


ICD-9-CM Codes

Asthma: 493.90 for age > 17
493.00 for age <=17


with followinf fifth digits specifications

0: Unspecified
1: Status Asthmaticus
2: Exacerbation


Bronchitis(chronic) is part of Asthma so bronchitis(chronic) is not coded when a patient has Asthma.

Asthma + Bronchitis = 493.90 (No need of 490.0 chronic bronchitis)

Although, acute bronchitis should be reported sperratly.

Asthma + Acute bronchitis: 493.90 and 466.0

There are combination codes for asthma and CPOD

Asthma + CPOD= 493.20
Asthma + CPOD exacerbation = 493.22

Bronchospasm is a symptoms of Asthma and is not coded along with asthma


ICD 9 Code for Asthma, ICD 9 Code for Asthma, ICD 9 Code for Asthma