Kikuchi's disease, also known as histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenopathy, is a rare, benign, (noncancerous, nonmalignant) disorder of the lymph nodes of young adults, predominantly in young women. This disorder is often mistaken for malignant lymphoma, especially cervical adenopathy because the symptoms are very similar. The lesions, or tissue anomalies, of this disorder, cause the lymph nodes to become enlarged (lymphadenopathy), inflamed and painful. The exact cause of Kikuchi's disease is not known. Perhaps the primary threat is a misdiagnosis of malignant lymphoma.

Kikuchi’s disease is a rare nonmalignant disorder that affects the lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are present throughout the body as small oval structures that filter lymph fluid, fight infection and form white blood cells and blood plasma cells. In addition to swelling and pain in the abdomen the lymph nodes on the side of the neck and near the salivary glands are often be affected.

Affected individuals may develop mild fever, night sweats, muscle pain (myalgia) and a rash. Less common symptoms include headaches, fatigue, joint pain (arthralgia), and Nausea and vomiting. In some cases, affected individuals may experience abnormal enlargement of the liver or spleen (hepatosplenomegaly). The symptoms of Kikuchi’s disease may develop slowly over two to three weeks.

For reasons that are unclear the abnormal tissue growth and inflammation in Kikuchi’s disease usually clears up, spontaneously, within a few weeks or months without further therapy (self-limited disease).

The exact cause of Kikuchi’s disease is not known (idiopathic). Many researchers suspect that a virus may cause this disorder. Others, however, believe that the disorder, like systemic lupus erythematosus, is a self-limited autoimmune condition. Autoimmune disorders are caused when the body’s natural defenses against “foreign” or invading organisms begin to attack healthy tissue for unknown reasons.

Treatment of Kikuchi's disease is symptomatic and supportive. Usually the disorder resolves itself spontaneously within a few weeks or months. Analgestics-antipyretics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) may be used to treat pain, tenderness and fever associated with lymphadenopathy. In extremely rare cases, Kikuchi's disease may recur.

Kikuchi's disease is diagnosed by removing tissue with a fine needle that is attached to a syringe. The tissue is then examined under a microscope to determine whether the patient has the disease.

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD), or kikuchi's histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, is a benign and self-limited disease that mainly affects young women. Patients present with localized lymphadenopathy, fever, and leukopenia in up to half of the cases. KFD can occur in association with systemic lupus erythematosus.

• Kikuchi disease is a benign (non-cancerous) condition of the lymph nodes.
• The main symptoms include swollen lymph nodes in the neck, mild fever, and night sweats.
• Less common symptoms include weight loss, nausea, vomiting, and sore throat.
• While the exact cause of this condition is unknown, infectious and autoimmune causes have been suggested.
• In the U.S., this disease is estimated to be less than 5,000. Kikuchi's disease, first identified in Japan in 1972, is extremely rare, with fewer than 50 cases reported in the medical literature.
• It appears to affect young adults particularly, but can occur at any age. Early reports suggest that Kikuchi's disease affects women more often than men by a 4:1 ratio. Recently reports suggest that the ratio is not that large.
• Kikuchi's disease occurs with greater frequency in Southeast Asia.
• Kikuchi's disease may be more prevalent than has been previously recognized since swollen glands are common and frequently ignored.
• This, combined with the self-limiting nature of the disorder, has led some clinicians to speculate that Kikuchi's disease is more common than originally thought.
• Since this disorder can only be identified unequivocally by biopsy of the tissue in the affected lymph nodes, it may be overlooked by many unsuspecting individuals and physicians.

Symptoms
Mild fever,Night sweats,Muscle pain (myalgia),A rash,Headaches,Fatigue,Joint pain,Nausea,Vomiting
Conditions
Lymph nodes gets affected
Drugs
Analgestics-antipyretics,Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory

Kikuchi's Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis is a benign condition presenting with lymphadenopathy, mild fever, and occasionally a rash or other systemic symptoms.

• Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis is also known as Kikuchi disease, Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, and histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenopathy
• the clinical symptoms and signs of histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis develop over two to three weeks and then subside over the next 4 months.
• The hallmark of the disease is tender palpable lymph nodes, most commonly on the back of the neck, above the collarbones, and in the armpits.
• Typically the lymph node enlargement is unilateral. Generalized lymph node enlargement has been reported in up to 22%.
• Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis is self-limiting.
• Symptomatic management of tender cervical lymphadenopathy may include paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Patients with a severe clinical course or relapsing disease may be treated with oral corticosteroids.
• The disorder gets resolved within a few weeks or months. Pain, tenderness and fever can be treated with Analgesics, antipyretics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs). However, this disease may recur in sporadic cases.
• The histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (hnl) disease can be diagnosed by removing tissue with the help of a needle attached to the syringe.

Symptoms
Mild fever,Night sweats,Muscle pain (myalgia),A rash,Headaches,Fatigue,Joint pain,Nausea,Vomiting
Conditions
Lymph nodes gets affected
Drugs
Analgestics-antipyretics,Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory