ICD10
ICD-10 Code A81.8: Other atypical virus infections of central nervous system
Reviewed by HealthAssure Clinical TeamUpdated 26 May 2026
What is this code?
ICD-10 entries help standardize how diagnoses are organized for coding, reporting, analytics, and documentation. 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 other atypical virus infections of central nervous system in a patient's medical record.
- May appear in hospital records, claims, referrals, and clinical documentation.
- This code may act more like a grouping or parent code, so a more specific child code may be used in final documentation when available.
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.
- This entry may represent a broader category rather than the most specific billable code.
Code hierarchy
chapter
1Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
block
A80-A89Viral and prion infections of the central nervous system
category
A81Atypical virus infections of central nervous system
currentA81
Where you may see this code
You may see this entry in coding references, medical records, or claims workflows when a broader diagnosis category is being reviewed before a more specific code is chosen.
Related specialists
Infectious Disease SpecialistGeneral Physician
Related codes
Sibling codes
Mapped diagnoses and classifications
SNOMED_CT 1259469003high
Dementia due to Gerstmann Straussler Scheinker syndrome
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
SNOMED_CT 1259501004high
Dementia due to kuru
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
SNOMED_CT 721219005high
Familial Alzheimer-like prion disease
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
SNOMED_CT 83157008high
Fatal familial insomnia
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
SNOMED_CT 67155006high
Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker syndrome
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
SNOMED_CT 86188000high
Kuru
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
Coding guidelines
Compatibility
Legacy code aligns to an official FY 2026 category. Frontend should resolve to the official category page and surface the billable child codes.
Legacy codes
A81.8
Replacement codes
A81.81 — KuruA81.82 — Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndromeA81.83 — Fatal familial insomniaA81.89 — Other atypical virus infections of central nervous system
Common synonyms
Other atypical virus infections of central nervous system
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.