2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code A53.9

Syphilis, unspecified

  • A53.9 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes.
  • The 2024 edition of ICD-10-CM A53.9 became effective on October 1, 2023.
  • This is the American ICD-10-CM version of A53.9 – other international versions of ICD-10 A53.9 may differ.

Applicable To

  • Infection due to Treponema pallidum NOS
  • Syphilis (acquired) NOS

Type 1 Excludes

  • syphilis NOS under two years of age (A50.2)

The following code(s) above A53.9 contain annotation back-references

 that may be applicable to A53.9:

  • A00-B99  Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
  • A50-A64  Infections with a predominantly sexual mode of transmission

Approximate Synonyms

  • Maternal syphilis complicating pregnancy, after childbirth
  • Maternal syphilis during pregnancy – baby not yet delivered
  • Postpartum syphilis
  • Syphilis
  • Syphilis in childbirth
  • Syphilis in pregnancy

Clinical Information

  • A contagious bacterial infection caused by the spirochete treponema pallidum. It is a sexually transmitted disorder, although it can also be transmitted from the mother to the fetus in utero. Typically, it is initially manifested with a single sore which heals without treatment. If the infection is left untreated, the initial stage is followed by skin rash and mucous membrane lesions. A late stage follows, which is characterized by damage of the internal organs, including the nervous system.
  • A contagious venereal disease caused by the spirochete treponema pallidum.
  • Subacute to chronic infectious venereal disease caused by the spirochete treponema pallidum.
  • Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria. It infects the genital area, lips, mouth, or anus of both men and women. You usually get syphilis from sexual contact with someone who has it. It can also pass from mother to baby during pregnancy. The early stage of syphilis usually causes a single, small, painless sore. Sometimes it causes swelling in nearby lymph nodes. If you do not treat it, syphilis usually causes a non-itchy skin rash, often on your hands and feet. Many people do not notice symptoms for years. Symptoms can go away and come back. The sores caused by syphilis make it easier to get or give someone hiv during sex. If you are pregnant, syphilis can cause birth defects, or you could lose your baby. In rare cases, syphilis causes serious health problems and even death.syphilis is easy to cure with antibiotics if you catch it early. Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not completely eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading syphilis.

ICD-10-CM A53.9 is grouped within Diagnostic Related Group(s) (MS-DRG v41.0):

  • 867 Other infectious and parasitic diseases diagnoses with mcc
  • 868 Other infectious and parasitic diseases diagnoses with cc
  • 869 Other infectious and parasitic diseases diagnoses without cc/mcc

Convert A53.9 to ICD-9-CMCode History

  • 2016 (effective 10/1/2015): New code (first year of non-draft ICD-10-CM)
  • 2017 (effective 10/1/2016): No change
  • 2018 (effective 10/1/2017): No change
  • 2019 (effective 10/1/2018): No change
  • 2020 (effective 10/1/2019): No change
  • 2021 (effective 10/1/2020): No change
  • 2022 (effective 10/1/2021): No change
  • 2023 (effective 10/1/2022): No change
  • 2024 (effective 10/1/2023): No change

Diagnosis Index entries containing back-references to A53.9: