Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease (KFD)

Kikuchi disease, also known as Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease or KFD, is a rare condition that causes swollen, painful lymph nodes that most often develop in your neck, with fever and fatigue. It most often affects people aged 30 and under. It isn’t serious and often goes away without treatment. But it can come back, so you’ll need to have regular check-ups.

Symptoms of Kikuchi disease

KFD symptoms typically develop over two to five weeks and include:

• Swollen and painful lymph nodes that usually affect one side of your neck, but can also develop in other areas
• Low-grade fever (99.5 to 100.3 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.5 to 37.9 degrees Celsius)
• Fatigue (feeling tired all the time)
• Headache
• Sore throat and cough
• Skin rash
• Nausea and vomiting
• Night sweats
• Losing weight without trying

Kikuchi disease causes

Experts don’t know the exact cause. Some link the disease to an unusual immune system response to viral or bacterial infections. Viral Infections that experts suspect may trigger KFD include:

• Cytomegaly virus
• Epstein–Barr virus
• Hepatitis B virus
• HIV
• Human T-lymphotropic virus 1
• Human papillomavirus
• Parainfluenza virus
• Parvovirus B19
• Torque teno virus/Torque teno-like mini virus

People who have certain autoimmune conditions may develop this disease. Other research suggests inheriting certain genes increases your risk.

Autoimmune disorders that may increase risk include:

• Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Still disease
• Sjögren syndrome

Complications of KFD

Very rarely, Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease may trigger hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) or aseptic meningitis from a viral infection.

How doctors diagnose Kikuchi disease

A healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms. They’ll check your lymph nodes by gently feeling your neck. They may ask about your health history, including any recent infections or exposure to infectious diseases. They may also do tests, like:

• Blood tests to check for viral infections
• Lymph node biopsy to rule out conditions that have similar symptoms, like lymphoma or tuberculosis

How is Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease treated?

There isn’t a specific cure, but your healthcare provider may recommend treatment to relieve symptoms, including:

• NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), for fever, pain and headache.
• Corticosteroids may be used in severe cases to reduce swelling in lymph nodes.

When should I seek care?

See a healthcare provider if you have a low-grade fever that doesn’t go away or swollen lymph nodes in your neck. Your provider will check to see if an infection is the cause of your symptoms. Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease can come back, so talk to your provider if you have symptoms like swollen lymph nodes, which could mean you have KFD again.

What can I expect if I have Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease?

Recovering from KFD takes time, but most people recover. Your symptoms may last for up to six months, so you may need extra rest while you recover. And Kikuchi disease can come back. You should plan regular check-ups.