Paronychia, a common infection affecting the skin folds around the fingernails or toenails, requires accurate diagnosis and coding for medical billing and record-keeping. In the United States, the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) system is used for this purpose. Specifically, the Diagnosis Code For Paronychia often falls under the code L03.019, especially when referring to a finger infection of unspecified location.
Decoding ICD-10-CM Code L03.019
ICD-10-CM code L03.019 is categorized as “Cellulitis of unspecified finger.” While the term “cellulitis” technically refers to a bacterial infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, in the context of finger infections and ICD-10 coding, L03.019 is frequently used to represent paronychia, especially when the specific finger is not documented.
This code is billable and specific, meaning it is a valid code for claiming reimbursement and provides a detailed level of diagnostic information. The 2025 edition of ICD-10-CM L03.019 became effective on October 1, 2024, and has remained consistent through several updates, highlighting its established use in medical coding. It’s important to note that ICD-10-CM is the American adaptation, and international versions of ICD-10 for paronychia may differ.
Synonyms and Related Terms for L03.019
To further clarify the scope of L03.019 as a diagnosis code for paronychia, it’s helpful to understand its approximate synonyms:
- Paronychia of finger: This is a direct synonym and clearly indicates the condition.
- Fingernail infection: A broader term encompassing infections around the fingernail.
- Onychia of finger: Refers to an infection of the nail matrix, often used interchangeably with paronychia in coding contexts.
- Cellulitis of finger: While clinically distinct from paronychia, this term is used in the code description and can overlap in some cases of severe paronychia.
- Cellulitis of thumb & Thumb paronychia & Thumb onychia: These are more specific terms that would be coded differently if the thumb is specified, but are conceptually related to L03.019 when the finger is unspecified.
L03.019 in Medical Billing and Coding
For healthcare providers and medical billing professionals, L03.019 serves as the crucial diagnosis code for paronychia of an unspecified finger. Accurate coding is essential for:
- Reimbursement: Ensuring proper claim processing and payment from insurance providers.
- Medical Records: Maintaining standardized and accurate patient records for future reference and data analysis.
- Statistical Tracking: Contributing to public health data and epidemiological studies related to finger infections.
Understanding diagnosis code L03.019 is therefore vital for anyone involved in diagnosing, treating, or billing for paronychia and related finger infections within the US healthcare system.
Alt text for image: ICD-10-CM US standard indicated by the American flag, relevant to diagnosis code for paronychia.
