nternational Classification of Diseases (ICD) ICD-10 was endorsed by the forty-third world Health assembly in May 1990 and came into use in WHO Member States as from 1994. The classification is the latest in a series which has its origins in the 1850s The first edition known as the international list of causes of death was adopted by the International Statistical Institute in 1893. WHo took over the responsibility for the icd at its creation in 1948 when the sixth Revision, which included causes of morbidity for the first time, was published The icd has become the international standard diagnostic classification for all general epidemiological and many health management purposes These include the analysis of the general health situation of population other health problems in relation to other variables such as the Sses and groups and monitoring of the incidence and prevalence of dise. characteristics and circumstances of the individuals affected It is used to classify diseases and other health problems recorded on many ty pes of health and vital records including death certificates and hospital records In addition to enabling the storage and retrieval of diagnostic information for clinical and epidemiological purposes, these records also provide the basis for the compilation of national mortality and morbidity statistics by WHo Member States