Streptococcal sepsis presenting as acute abdomen in a child with transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancy.

Group A streptococcal sepsis was documented in a child who presented with an acute abdomen. Massive retroperitoneal edema was observed at laparotomy with no focus of infection. Immunologic evaluation revealed low serum immunoglobulins and deficient in vitro IgG synthesis consistent with transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancy. Unusual or severe infections in infancy should be evaluated for congenital immunologic disease.