ICD-10-CM 2027
ICD-10 code for malaria
From the official ICD-10-CM alphabetic index entry “Malaria, malarial (fever)”. Page updated September 29, 2026.
About coding malaria
The ICD-10-CM code for malaria is B54 (Unspecified malaria). The official index lists 35 more specific codes, so check the documentation for details such as type, cause, site or severity before settling on B54.
As a secondary diagnosis it is a CC (complication or comorbidity), which can move an inpatient stay into the "with CC" MS-DRG of its family, unless the principal diagnosis excludes it.
In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 867 (Other Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Diagnoses with MCC, relative weight 2.1859), DRG 868 (Other Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Diagnoses with CC, relative weight 1.0235) and DRG 869 (Other Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Diagnoses without CC/MCC, relative weight 0.6787), in MDC 18 (Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Systemic or Unspecified Sites), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.
It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.
More specific malaria codes (official index)
- with
- blackwater fever B50.8 — Other severe and complicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria
- hemoglobinuric (bilious) B50.8 — Other severe and complicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria
- hemoglobinuria B50.8 — Other severe and complicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria
- accidentally induced (therapeutically) - code by type under Malaria
- algid B50.9 — Plasmodium falciparum malaria, unspecified
- cerebral B50.0 — Plasmodium falciparum malaria with cerebral complications
- clinically diagnosed (without parasitological confirmation) B54 — Unspecified malaria
- congenital NEC P37.4 — Other congenital malaria
- falciparum P37.3 — Congenital falciparum malaria
- congestion, congestive B54 — Unspecified malaria
- continued (fever) B50.9 — Plasmodium falciparum malaria, unspecified
- estivo-autumnal B50.9 — Plasmodium falciparum malaria, unspecified
- falciparum B50.9 — Plasmodium falciparum malaria, unspecified
- with complications NEC B50.8 — Other severe and complicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria
- cerebral B50.0 — Plasmodium falciparum malaria with cerebral complications
- severe B50.8 — Other severe and complicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria
- hemorrhagic B54 — Unspecified malaria
- malariae B52.9 — Plasmodium malariae malaria without complication
- with
- complications NEC B52.8 — Plasmodium malariae malaria with other complications
- glomerular disorder B52.0 — Plasmodium malariae malaria with nephropathy
- malignant (tertian)
- mixed infections - code to first listed type in B50-B53
- ovale B53.0 — Plasmodium ovale malaria
- parasitologically confirmed NEC B53.8 — Other malaria, not elsewhere classified
- pernicious, acute
- Plasmodium (P.)
- falciparum NEC
- malariae NEC B52.9 — Plasmodium malariae malaria without complication
- with Plasmodium
- falciparum (and or vivax)
- vivax
- and falciparum
- ovale B53.0 — Plasmodium ovale malaria
- with Plasmodium malariae
- and vivax
- and falciparum
- simian B53.1 — Malaria due to simian plasmodia
- with Plasmodium malariae
- and vivax
- and falciparum
- vivax NEC B51.9 — Plasmodium vivax malaria without complication
- with Plasmodium falciparum
- quartan
- quotidian
- recurrent B54 — Unspecified malaria
- remittent B54 — Unspecified malaria
- specified type NEC (parasitologically confirmed) B53.8 — Other malaria, not elsewhere classified
- spleen B54 — Unspecified malaria
- subtertian (fever)
- tertian (benign)
- malignant B50.9 — Plasmodium falciparum malaria, unspecified
- tropical B50.9 — Plasmodium falciparum malaria, unspecified
- typhoid B54 — Unspecified malaria
- vivax B51.9 — Plasmodium vivax malaria without complication
- with
- complications NEC B51.8 — Plasmodium vivax malaria with other complications
- ruptured spleen B51.0 — Plasmodium vivax malaria with rupture of spleen
Common questions about malaria ICD-10 codes
What is the ICD-10 code for malaria?
- B54 — Unspecified malaria. More specific codes apply when the documentation supports them: B50.8, B50.8, B50.8, B50.9 and others below.
What is the ICD-10 code for algid malaria?
- B50.9 — Plasmodium falciparum malaria, unspecified.
What is the ICD-10 code for cerebral malaria?
- B50.0 — Plasmodium falciparum malaria with cerebral complications.
What is the ICD-10 code for clinically diagnosed malaria?
- B54 — Unspecified malaria.
What is the ICD-10 code for congenital nec malaria?
- P37.4 — Other congenital malaria.
What is the ICD-10 code for continued malaria?
- B50.9 — Plasmodium falciparum malaria, unspecified.
What is the ICD-10 code for estivo-autumnal malaria?
- B50.9 — Plasmodium falciparum malaria, unspecified.
Is B54 billable?
- Yes. B54 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).
Can B54 be used as a principal diagnosis?
- Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict B54 as a principal diagnosis.
Is B54 a CC or MCC?
- B54 is a CC (complication or comorbidity) under MS-DRG v44.0, unless excluded by the principal diagnosis.