ICD-10 Codes for COVID-19 with Rhinorrhea, Non-productive Cough, and Headache
For a patient who tested positive for COVID-19 with symptoms of runny nose, non-productive cough, and headache, the appropriate primary ICD-10 code is U07.1 (COVID-19, virus identified) with additional symptom codes J00 (rhinorrhea/acute nasopharyngitis), R05 (cough), and R51 (headache).
Primary Diagnostic Code
The primary code for a confirmed case of COVID-19 is:
- U07.1 - COVID-19, virus identified (for patients with a positive COVID-19 test)
Secondary Symptom Codes
Additional codes should be used to document the specific symptoms:
- J00 - Acute nasopharyngitis [common cold] (for runny nose/rhinorrhea)
- R05 - Cough (for non-productive cough)
- R51 - Headache (for headache)
Coding Algorithm
- First, assign the primary code U07.1 for the confirmed COVID-19 infection
- Then add secondary codes for each specific symptom:
- J00 for rhinorrhea
- R05 for cough
- R51 for headache
Clinical Considerations
The symptoms described align with the mild illness category of COVID-19 as defined by the American College of Cardiology, which describes mild illness as "individual who has symptoms or signs of COVID-19 (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, and malaise), without dyspnea or abnormal chest imaging" 1.
Research indicates that these symptoms are common in COVID-19:
- Rhinorrhea (runny nose) is reported in approximately 20% of COVID-19 cases 2
- Cough is one of the dominant symptoms, occurring in 63.3% of cases 2
- Headache occurs in about 25% of COVID-19 patients 2
Important Coding Notes
- Do not use B34.2 (Coronavirus infection, unspecified) for confirmed COVID-19 cases.
- Do not use "suspected" or "possible" COVID-19 codes when the test is positive.
- If the patient develops more severe symptoms later, the coding may need to be updated.
- If the patient develops post-COVID conditions later, code U09.9 (Post COVID-19 condition) would be appropriate at that time.
Documentation Requirements
Ensure documentation includes:
- Positive COVID-19 test result (type and date)
- Specific symptoms (rhinorrhea, non-productive cough, headache)
- Symptom onset dates
- Absence of more severe symptoms (to confirm mild illness classification)
This coding approach accurately captures both the confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis and the specific symptom manifestations, which is essential for proper patient tracking, epidemiological data collection, and appropriate reimbursement.