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    OpenPayerBilling CodesMalnutritionICD-10-CM e42-marasmic-kwashiorkor
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    ICD-10-CM Code For Marasmic Kwashiorkor: Group Overview

    The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group E42 includes severe protein-energy malnutrition combining features of both marasmus and kwashiorkor, characterized by wasting with edema and other systemic effects. These ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to document nutritional deficiency states with significant clinical severity, metabolic derangements, and potential multisystem involvement. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-CM E42 group supports proper claim adjudication, complete clinical documentation, and appropriate reimbursement.

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    ICD-10-CM E42: Marasmic Kwashiorkor Overview

    The diagnoses in this group represent severe forms of protein-energy malnutrition combining features of both marasmus and kwashiorkor, primarily affecting nutritional status and multiple organ systems. They target metabolic and nutritional disorders resulting from inadequate caloric and protein intake. Accurate coding is important for complete clinical documentation and supports appropriate reimbursement for complex nutritional management.

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    When to Use

    Use a code from this group when a patient is clinically diagnosed with marasmic kwashiorkor characterized by both severe wasting and edema attributable to protein-energy malnutrition. These codes apply in documentation of acute or chronic nutritional deficiency requiring medical management and nutritional intervention.

    ICD-10-CM Codes

    1 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    E42Marasmic kwashiorkor

    DRG Codes

    2 rows

    DRG CodeDescription
    640Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and Electrolytes with MCC
    641Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and Electrolytes without MCC

    Typical Clinical Scenarios

    • An infant from a low-income region is brought to the emergency department with generalized edema, muscle wasting, irritability, and failure to thrive after several months of inadequate dietary intake and recent diarrheal illness. Physical exam shows bilateral pitting edema, hair changes, and a distended abdomen; laboratory evaluation reveals hypoalbuminemia consistent with severe protein-energy malnutrition. A diagnosis from this group is assigned to describe severe malnutrition with both wasting and edema (marasmic kwashiorkor) as the primary condition prompting acute care. Typical codes: E42
    • A 4-year-old child in a pediatric outpatient clinic has a history of chronic food insecurity, slowed growth percentiles, recurrent infections, and persistent peripheral edema despite treatment of acute illnesses. The clinician documents a long-standing mixed picture of protein deficiency and energy deficiency contributing to impaired growth and immune function; the coding reflects the chronic malnutrition syndrome combining wasting and edema. Typical codes: E42
    • An adult with advanced alcohol use disorder is hospitalized for sepsis and is noted to have severe muscle wasting with paradoxical peripheral edema and biochemical evidence of malnutrition during the inpatient stay. The malnutrition is documented as a major comorbidity that complicates the hospital course and affects nutrition management and recovery, so a code from this group is assigned to capture the severity and impact of combined wasting and edema. Typical codes: E42

    Related Codes

    E40-KWASHIORKOR

    ICD-10-CM Code For Kwashiorkor: Group Overview

    E41-NUTRITIONAL-MARASMUS

    ICD-10-CM Code For Nutritional Marasmus: Group Overview

    E43-UNSPECIFIED-SEVERE-PROTEIN-CALORIE-MALNUTRITION

    ICD-10-CM Code For Unspecified Severe Protein-Calorie Malnutrition: Group Overview

    E44-PROTEIN-CALORIE-MALNUTRITION

    ICD-10-CM Code For Protein-Calorie Malnutrition Of Moderate And Mild Degree: Group Overview

    E45-RETARDED-DEVELOPMENT-FOLLOWING-PROTEIN-CALORIE-MALNUTRITION

    ICD-10-CM Code For Retarded Development Following Protein Calorie Malnutrition: Group Overview

    E46-UNSPECIFIED-PROTEIN-CALORIE-MALNUTRITION

    ICD-10-CM Code For Unspecified Protein-Calorie Malnutrition: Group Overview

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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