Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease in a Young Adult Male: A Rare Case Report

Introduction: Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is a rare, self-limiting condition marked by necrotizing lymphadenitis that predominantly affects young female adults. The diagnosis can be challenging due to its nonspecific symptoms and varying presentations.
Case Report: An 18-year-old male presented with persistent high-grade fever, chills, and body aches lasting over 15 days following his return from abroad. Initial preliminary examinations led to a diagnosis of pyrexia of unknown origin. The fever was associated with chills, body aches, non-productive cough, chest pain, hemoptysis, and dyspnea. The patient reported no significant prior medical history or vaccination records. There was no known exposure to sick contacts or recent antibiotic use. The patient was managed symptomatically with antipyretics and supportive care. Despite initial treatment of antibiotics, the fever persisted. On day 4 of hospitalization, contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) of the abdomen and pelvis revealed hepatosplenomegaly with mild lymphadenopathy involving multiple regions, including cervical and inguinal nodes. Clinical correlations along with a lymph node excision biopsy performed on day 7 of hospitalization confirmed the diagnosis of KFD. The patient responded well to conservative management with antibiotics and antipyretics and was discharged on day 8. A 2-year follow-up showed no disease recurrence.
Conclusion: This case emphasizes the importance of considering KFD in young patients with persistent fever and lymphadenopathy, despite atypical presentations. Correlation of clinical, radiological, and histopathological findings remains crucial for accurate diagnosis.