Characteristics of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease in children compared with adults

Tae Yeun Kim, Kee Soo Ha, Yunkyung Kim, Junghwa Lee, Kwangchul Lee, Joowon Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is a benign, self-limiting disease characterized by cervical lymphadenopathy. Although it was primarily thought to be a disease of young adults, it has been increasingly recognized in children. To define the characteristics of KFD in children, we reviewed the medical records of patients younger than 18 years of age who were diagnosed with KFD from 2001 to 2012 at Korea University Medical Center, as well as worldwide published reports of KFD. A total of 140 pediatric patients and 733 patients of all ages was analyzed. Compared to the female predominance found in adults (2:1), young boys were more commonly affected than young girls (1.4:1). Cervical lymphadenopathy was the most common clinical finding in children, as it was in adults. Lymphadenopathy was more likely to be tender (69 vs. 44 %, p < 0.001) but less generalized (1 vs. 8 %, p < 0.05) in children compared to adults. Fever (82 vs. 35 %, p < 0.001) and rash (10 vs. 4 %, p < 0.05) were observed in children more commonly than in adults. Leukopenia was observed in 50 and 38 % of children and adults, respectively. Rates of recurrence and association with autoimmune diseases in children were comparable to those of adults. Cervical lymphadenopathy was the most common clinical manifestation of KFD in all ages. While fever and rash were more common in children with KFD compared to adults, generalized lymphadenopathy was rarer.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)111-116
Number of pages6
JournalEuropean Journal of Pediatrics
Volume173
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014 Jan
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Children
  • Fever
  • Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease
  • Lymphadenopathy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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