The signs and symptoms of Kikuchi disease are fever, enlargement of the lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy), skin rashes, and headache.

[10] In addition, serologic tests including antibodies to a host of viruses have consistently proven noncontributory and no viral particles have been identified ultrastructurally.

KFD may represent an exuberant T-cell-mediated immune response in a genetically susceptible individual to a variety of nonspecific stimuli.

[1] Certain Human leukocyte antigen class II genes appear more frequently in patients with Kikuchi disease, suggesting that there may be a genetic predisposition to the proposed autoimmune response.

[12] The differential diagnosis of Kikuchi disease includes systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), disseminated tuberculosis, lymphoma, sarcoidosis, and viral lymphadenitis.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are indicated for tender lymph nodes and fever, and corticosteroids are useful in severe extranodal or generalized disease.

[12] Symptomatic measures aimed at relieving the distressing local and systemic complaints have been described as the main line of management of KFD.

If the clinical course is more severe, with multiple flares of bulky enlarged cervical lymph nodes and fever, then a low-dose corticosteroid treatment has been suggested.

Death from Kikuchi disease is extremely rare and usually occurs due to liver, respiratory, or heart failure.