Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease Presenting as Acute Febrile Pharyngo-Tonsillitis in a Young Female: A Rare Clinical Masquerade

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is a rare, benign, self-limiting cause of cervical lymphadenopathy and fever, predominantly affecting young women. Due to its nonspecific clinical presentation, it is frequently misdiagnosed as tuberculosis, lymphoma, or systemic lupus erythematosus, especially in tuberculosis-endemic regions. Presentation as acute febrile pharyngo- tonsillitis is uncommon and may lead to diagnostic delay and inappropriate antimicrobial therapy. We report the case of a 24-year-old female who presented with prolonged fever and acute pharyngo-tonsillitis, initially treated as bacterial infection. Persistence of fever and cervical lymphadenopathy despite antibiotic therapy prompted lymph node biopsy, which confirmed Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease4. Early recognition of this atypical presentation is essential to avoid unnecessary investigations and prolonged antimicrobial use.