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Is Kikuchi Disease Curable?
Question: Hi,
My name is XXXXXXX from XXXXXXX Recently My sister passed away due to Kikuchi disease. I need to know the root cause and whether it is curable. Also can you please explain whether it is a genetic disease (whether it will come mother to children.). And how to prevent from this. And test that has to taken to verify whether it is present.
Regards, XXXXXXX S,
Mob:-+0000
My name is XXXXXXX from XXXXXXX Recently My sister passed away due to Kikuchi disease. I need to know the root cause and whether it is curable. Also can you please explain whether it is a genetic disease (whether it will come mother to children.). And how to prevent from this. And test that has to taken to verify whether it is present.
Regards, XXXXXXX S,
Mob:-+0000
Brief Answer:
Kikuchi disease is rare benign condition
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Present medical literature says that "Kikuchi disease is a benign (non-cancerous), acute disorder of the lymph nodes that is usually seen in younger women. It is characterized by cervical lymphadenopathy (tender, swollen lymph nodes), mild fever, and night sweats. Less frequent symptoms include weight loss, nausea, vomiting, and sore throat. While the exact cause of this condition is unknown, infectious and autoimmune causes have been proposed. Treatment is symptomatic and supportive and may include pain relievers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDS) drugs and, rarely, corticosteroids. Most cases resolve spontaneously within 1 to 6 months."
It is curable in most patients and unfortunate that your sister could not get cured. Reports on death due to Kikuchi disease says that very rarely patients have died due to complications arising with Kikuchi disease. The complications may involve lungs, heart, liver and in some SLE (systemic lupus erythromatosus) with infections.
Genetic predisposition has been proposed but not yet confirmed and the chance may be considered very low for children to get the disease from mother. More research needs to be carried out.
We all have an immune system that helps to fight disease causing agents which enter the body. When this immune system malfunctions it starts for fight with other cells in the body and causes diseases like Kikuchi disease. You can imagine it as a condition where some cells in the body do not recognize its own cells and starts producing antibodies which destroy friendly cells.
Catching the disease early is best prevention of complications. Sadly for your sister, diagnosis might have got delayed and she developed complications. Most patients survive in Kikuchi disease and are treated.
Diagnosis of Kikuchi disease is confirmed only by biopsy of lymph nodes.
Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Kikuchi disease is rare benign condition
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Present medical literature says that "Kikuchi disease is a benign (non-cancerous), acute disorder of the lymph nodes that is usually seen in younger women. It is characterized by cervical lymphadenopathy (tender, swollen lymph nodes), mild fever, and night sweats. Less frequent symptoms include weight loss, nausea, vomiting, and sore throat. While the exact cause of this condition is unknown, infectious and autoimmune causes have been proposed. Treatment is symptomatic and supportive and may include pain relievers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDS) drugs and, rarely, corticosteroids. Most cases resolve spontaneously within 1 to 6 months."
It is curable in most patients and unfortunate that your sister could not get cured. Reports on death due to Kikuchi disease says that very rarely patients have died due to complications arising with Kikuchi disease. The complications may involve lungs, heart, liver and in some SLE (systemic lupus erythromatosus) with infections.
Genetic predisposition has been proposed but not yet confirmed and the chance may be considered very low for children to get the disease from mother. More research needs to be carried out.
We all have an immune system that helps to fight disease causing agents which enter the body. When this immune system malfunctions it starts for fight with other cells in the body and causes diseases like Kikuchi disease. You can imagine it as a condition where some cells in the body do not recognize its own cells and starts producing antibodies which destroy friendly cells.
Catching the disease early is best prevention of complications. Sadly for your sister, diagnosis might have got delayed and she developed complications. Most patients survive in Kikuchi disease and are treated.
Diagnosis of Kikuchi disease is confirmed only by biopsy of lymph nodes.
Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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