R68.89 - Other general symptoms and signs

Read this short guide to learn about the ICD-10 code R68.89 – Other general symptoms and signs.

By Patricia Buenaventura on May 12, 2025.

Table of content

R68.89 diagnosis code: Other general symptoms and signs Is R68.89 billable?Clinical information Synonyms include Other ICD-10 codes commonly used for general symptoms and signs FAQS

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R68.89 diagnosis code: Other general symptoms and signs

The ICD-10 R68.89 diagnosis code, under the code range R00-R99: Symptoms, signs, and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified, designates Other general symptoms and signs. This code is part of a group that designates specific symptoms.

There are specific ICD-10 CM codes for the following symptoms:

Early satiety (feeling full even if the meal was small)
Decreased libido
Chills without fever
Jaw pain

If you're handling a patient with general symptoms and signs other than those listed above, this is the ICD-10 code you want to use. Other general symptoms and signs include the following:

Body odor problems
Difficulty lifting
Feels hot and sweaty
Low motivation
Red right eye
Rubs eyes excessively
Sickly appearance of the face
Absence of vital signs

Please note that this ICD-10 code isn't valid as a principal diagnosis because it's only meant to designate symptoms, not specific medical problems.

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Is R68.89 billable?

Yes. This ICD-10 code is valid (in general, but not as a principal diagnosis) and billable.

Clinical information

During medical conditions, healthcare professionals will take a look at a patient's signs and symptoms as they go about determining what their medical problem is. Signs and symptoms are not the same, but they are easily conflated.

Healthcare professionals can observe and measure signs as they examine their patients. These are not subject to a patient's interpretations. Examples of signs include:

High body temperature
High or low blood pressure
Swelling
Edema
Bruises
Abnormal heart rhythm
Rapid heartbeats
Abnormalities detected by imaging tests
Abnormal laboratory findings

Symptoms are what the patients report to healthcare professionals. Unlike signs, healthcare professionals can't observe or measure these. Examples of symptoms include:

Pain in the lower back
Cold intolerant
Headaches
Feeling dizzy
Blurry vision
Nausea
Feeling fatigued

Signs and symptoms are essential to healthcare professionals because they consider them during diagnostic processes and when making treatment plans.

Synonyms include

Signs
Symptoms
General signs
General symptoms
Symptom aggravating factors
Symptom findings in relation to frequency
Symptom findings in relation to start time
Symptom findings in relation to time lasts
Symptom has changed
Symptom is continuous
R68.89
R68.89 diagnosis code
ICD code R68.89
ICD 10 R68.89
R68.89 ICD 10

Other ICD-10 codes commonly used for general symptoms and signs

R68.81 - Early satiety
R68.82 - Decreased libido
R68.83 - Chills (without fever)
R68.84 - Jaw pain

Frequently asked questions

Can R68.89 be a primary diagnosis?

No, it cannot be a primary diagnosis since it's only meant to be used for signs and symptoms.

When should R68.89 be used?

It should be used when the healthcare provider discovers a symptom but doesn't have any definitive diagnosis yet.

Are there any coding guidelines that one should be aware of when using R68.89?

The most important guidelines is to always code to the highest level of specificity. This is to say that if a more specific diagnosis can be established, then a healthcare provider must avoid using R68.89.