Axillary involvement in pediatric Kikuchi's disease

We report the first Israeli pediatric case of Kikuchi's disease in a 10-year-old male. He was hospitalized for evaluation of migrating arthralgia and fever. Axillary adenopathy was the main physical finding. A biopsy showed a histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis. Diagnosis, therapeutic options and the clinical significance of Kikuchi's disease are discussed. Kikuchi's disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of fever of unknown origin in children, even in the absence of cervical adenopathy. A long follow-up is advised because of possible links with systemic lupus erythematosus and to detect eventual late recurrences.