Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, also known as histiocytic necrotising lymphadenitis, is a self-limiting condition of uncertain aetiology characterised by lymphadenopathy, pyrexia, and neutropenia. Some reported cases have been associated with systemic lupus erythematosus and there have been suggestions that Kikuchi's disease could represent a mild form of lupus but without definite evidence. We describe an unusual case of histiocytic necrotising lymphadenitis in an Asian woman who had recurrent episodes for five years before a diagnosis was made.