A68.1 Tick-borne relapsing fever

The ICD-10-CM code for Tick-borne relapsing fever is A68.1 (FY2026). It is a billable, claim-ready diagnosis code.

Classification

Chapter

1: Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)

Section

A65-A69: Other spirochetal diseases (A65-A69)

Category A68

4 codes (3 billable)

FY2026 Status

Stable since FY2024

Also Known As

ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index entries that lead to A68.1:

• Carter's relapsing fever (Asiatic)
• Dutton's relapsing fever (West African)
• Relapsing fever › Carter's (Asiatic)
• Fever (inanition) (of unknown origin) (persistent) (with chills) (with rigor) › African tick-borne
• Novy's relapsing fever › tick-borne
• Fever (inanition) (of unknown origin) (persistent) (with chills) (with rigor) › South African tick-bite
• Fever (inanition) (of unknown origin) (persistent) (with chills) (with rigor) › mianeh
• African › tick fever

Inclusion Terms

• Relapsing fever due to any Borrelia species other than Borrelia recurrentis

U.S. Hospital Utilization

• An estimated 135 U.S. inpatient stays in 2023 included A68.1 among the documented diagnoses.
• 65 stays listed it as the principal diagnosis.

Source: National Inpatient Sample (NIS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2016–2023. National survey-weighted estimates.

Official Coding Guidelines

HIV Infections (TOC entry)

a. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infections .............................................................. 19

Infectious agents causing diseases in other chapters (TOC)

b. Infectious agents as the cause of diseases classified to other chapters ................................. 22

Source: CMS — ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY2026

References

• CMS — ICD-10-CM Official Code Set and Guidelines, FY2026
• CDC/NCHS — ICD-10-CM Files and Browser Tool
• AHRQ — HCUP National Inpatient Sample, Frequencies by Diagnosis Code (2016–2023)