Kikuchi Disease Symptoms and Treatment

Kikuchi disease, also called histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis or Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, is a disease that affects the lymph nodes, causing lymph node inflammation. The exact cause of the disease is not yet known, although some researchers have suggested it is an infection or autoimmune disorder.

The most widely accepted theory by experts is that Kikuchi disease is the result of one or more unidentified agents triggering a self-limited autoimmune process.

Who's at Risk?

Kikuchi disease was first described in Japan in 1972 but has since been reported throughout the world in all races. It was previously thought that more women than men were affected by Kikuchi disease; however, more recent evidence suggests that it is not more likely to affect one sex more than another. Kikuchi disease occurs in a wide age range but generally affects young adults ages 20 to 30.

Symptoms

Kikuchi disease usually takes the form of lymph node inflammation. Most of the time it's only neck lymph nodes that are affected. People with Kikuchi disease develop a fever and flu-like symptoms. A red rash may also appear.

The lymph nodes can be tender and painful around two to three centimeters in diameter.

Diagnosis

An ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI can confirm the presence of enlarged lymph nodes but cannot confirm the diagnosis.Because of its symptoms and because it is so difficult to diagnose, Kikuchi disease is often mistaken for lymphoma or systemic lupus erythematosus. The only way to know for sure if your symptoms are from Kikuchi disease is for your healthcare provider to remove a lymph node and examine the tissues in it. Luckily, unlike lymphoma and lupus, Kikuchi disease is not life-threatening.

Treatment Options

Treatment for Kikuchi disease consists of relieving any fever, flu symptoms, or lymph node tenderness. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen can help with these symptoms. Kikuchi disease will usually clear up on its own within one to four months.

8 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Perry AM, Choi SM. Kikuchi-fujimoto disease: a review. Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine. 2018;142(11):1341-1346. doi: 10.5858/arpa.2018-0219-RA
Lamzaf L, Harmouche H, Maamar M, Adnaoui M, Aouni M, Tazi Mezalek Z. Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease: Report of 4 cases and review of the literature. European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Diseases. 2014;131(6):329-332. doi: 10.1016/j.anorl.2013.01.007
National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease.
Lelii M, Senatore L, Amodeo I, et al. Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease in children: two case reports and a review of the literature. Ital J Pediatr. 2018;44(1):83. doi: 10.1186/s13052-018-0522-9
Ludwig BJ, Wang J, Nadgir RN, Saito N, Castro-Aragon I, Sakai O. Imaging of cervical lymphadenopathy in children and young adults. American Journal of Roentgenology. 2012;199(5):1105-1113. doi:10.2214/AJR.12.8629
Găman M, Vlădăreanu AM, Dobrea C, et al. A challenging case of kikuchi-fujimoto disease associated with systemic lupus erythematosus and review of the literature. Case Reports in Hematology. 2018;2018:1-5. doi: 10.1155/2018/1791627
National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease overview.
National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease standard therapies.