Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease in a Child: An Uncommon Cause of Fever of Unknown Origin with Cervical Lymphadenopathy

Abstract

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD), also known as histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis is a benign and unusual self-limiting disease, should be included in the differential diagnosis of lymphadenopathy and fever of unknown origin. This disease mostly affects young Asian women, and is rarely reported amongst children. The etiology of KFD remains unclear currently, although the malady may arise secondarily to infection. According to the comments of a number of investigators, the most-common viral pathogens attributed to KFD are of the herpes family, including cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8). Here, we report a 10-year-old child who presented with cervical lymphadenopathy and prolonged fever. Histological examination of involved lymph nodes showed classical KFD.