What does ICD-10 code A38.8 mean?

ICD-10 code A38.8 is the standardized code used for scarlet fever with other complications in medical records and coding systems.

When is ICD-10 code A38.8 used?

Doctors, hospitals, and insurers may use ICD-10 code A38.8 when recording scarlet fever with other complications in a standardized format.

Does ICD-10 code A38.8 confirm a diagnosis?

No. A code helps standardize documentation and claims, but it should not be read as a substitute for a clinician's full assessment.

ICD10BillableValid for clinical use

ICD-10 Code A38.8: Scarlet fever with other complications

Name: ICD-10 Code A38.8: Scarlet fever with other complications
Creator: HealthAssure Clinical Team
Published: 2026-05-21T06:00:23.922Z

A38.8 is a billable ICD-10 diagnosis code used to classify Scarlet fever with other complications in medical records and claims. You may see this code in hospital records, discharge summaries, insurance claims, encounter documentation, referrals, or other healthcare billing and coding records. ICD-10 codes are diagnosis classification codes used in healthcare records, reporting, coding workflows, and billing support. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99).

Reviewed by HealthAssure Clinical TeamUpdated 21 May 2026

What is this code?

ICD-10 codes are diagnosis classification codes used in healthcare records, reporting, coding workflows, and billing support. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99).

When is it used?

May be used when a clinician documents scarlet fever with other complications in a patient's medical record.
May appear in hospital records, claims, referrals, and clinical documentation.
This code can be used as a clinically usable diagnosis entry in standardized coding workflows.

What it does not mean

A code alone does not explain severity, treatment plan, or outcome.
A medical code should not be treated as a substitute for a doctor's diagnosis or advice.

Code hierarchy

chapter

1Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)

block

A30-A49Other bacterial diseases

Where you may see this code

You may see this code in hospital records, discharge summaries, insurance claims, encounter documentation, referrals, or other healthcare billing and coding records.

Related specialists

Infectious Disease SpecialistGeneral Physician

Sibling codes

A38.0Scarlet fever with otitis mediabillable A38.1Scarlet fever with myocarditisbillable A38.9Scarlet fever, uncomplicatedbillable

Coding guidelines

Common synonyms

Scarlet fever with other complications

Frequently asked questions

About this content

This page is prepared by HealthAssure's clinical team using official coding standards from ICD-10. AI tools assist with drafting explanations, which are then reviewed and verified by healthcare professionals for accuracy. This content is for informational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice. Meet our team.