Kikuchi's disease: a rare cause of cervical lymphadenitis and fever.

Cervical lymphadenitis and fever are common in patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED). Kikuchi's disease is a rare, self-limited cause of fever and cervical lymphadenitis often misdiagnosed as lymphoma or lupus and inappropriately treated, potentially causing numerous ED visits for unrelieved symptoms. The case described is that of a 29-year-old with persistent fever and cervical lymphadenitis who presented to the ED with a suspected allergic reaction to an antibiotic. The diagnosis of Kikuchi's disease was made in association with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and partial hydatidiform mole. The case highlights the clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of Kikuchi's disease.