What is it about?
Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease is a rare and usually short-lasting condition that causes inflammation of the lymph nodes and often affects young adults. Because its symptoms can resemble many common infections, it is often difficult to diagnose. In this report, we describe an 18-year-old male who developed a persistent high fever, chills, body aches, and breathing-related symptoms after returning from travel abroad. Despite initial treatment with antibiotics, his fever continued, and routine tests did not reveal a clear cause. Further imaging showed enlargement of the liver, spleen, and several lymph nodes. A small surgical biopsy of one of the swollen lymph nodes was eventually performed, which confirmed the diagnosis of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease. The patient was treated with supportive care, including fever control and close monitoring, and his symptoms gradually improved. He was discharged from the hospital within a week and remained well, with no recurrence of symptoms during two years of follow-up. This case highlights the importance of considering rare but treatable conditions like Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease in young patients with prolonged fever and swollen lymph nodes. Early recognition and appropriate testing can help avoid unnecessary treatments and lead to better patient outcomes.
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Why is it important?
This case is unique because Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease is rarely reported in young males and can closely mimic serious infections, including those acquired during international travel. The patient’s symptoms, which included prolonged high fever and breathing-related complaints, made the diagnosis particularly challenging and increased the risk of unnecessary investigations and prolonged antibiotic use. At a time when persistent fever after travel often raises concern for emerging or severe infections, this report highlights the importance of considering rare but self-limiting conditions such as Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease. By raising awareness of its atypical presentation, this case may help clinicians reach an accurate diagnosis earlier, reduce patient anxiety, avoid unnecessary treatments, and improve overall care.
Perspectives
As an author, this case was particularly meaningful because it demonstrated how rare conditions can easily be overlooked when they present with common yet concerning symptoms such as prolonged fever and lymph node enlargement. Managing this patient reinforced the importance of maintaining a broad differential diagnosis, especially when initial investigations and standard treatments fail to yield improvement. What stood out most was the value of a multidisciplinary team approach. Collaboration between internists, infectious disease specialists, radiologists, pathologists, and surgeons was essential in guiding the diagnostic process. Radiological findings raised suspicion beyond routine infection, while timely surgical biopsy and histopathological evaluation ultimately confirmed the diagnosis. This coordinated effort helped avoid prolonged empirical treatments and unnecessary interventions. From a personal standpoint, this experience emphasized that complex and atypical cases are best approached through structured communication across specialties rather than isolated decision-making. I believe this case highlights how multidisciplinary collaboration can shorten time to diagnosis, improve patient outcomes, and enhance clinical learning. Sharing this experience may encourage clinicians to engage early with multidisciplinary teams when faced with persistent diagnostic uncertainty.
Dr Mohammedfaeq O. F. Alqolaq
Zulekha Healthcare Group
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease in a Young Adult Male: A Rare Case Report, Dubai Medical Journal, December 2025, Knowledge E,
DOI: 10.18502/dmj.v8i4.20490.
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