Unusual presentation of psoas abscess in a child

Primary abscess of the psoas muscle is relatively rare in infants and young children. The clinical presentation of the disease, with limping, fever, a nd abdominal pain, may be confused with conditions such as septic arthritis of the hip, osteomyelitis, or appendicitis. The authors present an unusual case of a ruptured left psoas abscess presenting as generalized peritoniti s in a child. Copyright (C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.