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Rare Disease Mimics TB, Delays Diagnosis for Years
18 Aug
Summary
- A 32-year-old man was diagnosed with rare Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease.
- The condition mimicked tuberculosis, leading to years of incorrect treatment.
- Diagnosis required extensive evaluation, including lymph node biopsy and tests.
A man from Visakhapatnam, aged 32, has finally received a diagnosis of the rare Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease after suffering from recurrent lymph node swelling for nearly six years. The condition, an inflammatory disorder affecting lymph nodes, closely resembles tuberculosis, lymphoma, and other infections, causing significant diagnostic delays.
Initially presenting in 2020 with fever and swollen lymph nodes, the patient underwent treatment for suspected tuberculosis. However, his symptoms persisted, prompting further investigation. Despite repeated negative microbiological tests for tuberculosis, he received similar treatment again in 2022. A recent episode of painful swelling led him to KIMS Hospitals.
Consultant pulmonologist Dr. Konathala Surendra emphasized the extensive evaluation, including lymph node biopsy and immunological tests, that ultimately identified Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease. He stressed the importance of considering alternative diagnoses when lymph node swelling recurs and shows poor response to standard treatments, urging comprehensive assessment beyond initial suspicions of tuberculosis or lymphoma.
