PANDAS and PANS

Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections (PANDAS) and Pediatric Acute-Onset of Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) are disorders related to rapid changes in behavior of a child or young adult. PANDAS is associated with Group A beta-hemolytic strep infections while PANS can be activated due to other infectious causes, including Tick-borne infections. Other neurotoxins such as repeated mold exposure and heavy metals also play a role. Symptoms arise from inflammatory triggers in the brain changing behavior. If left untreated this can change the trajectory of a child’s life dramatically causing unnecessary trauma for the children and their families.

Common symptoms are obsessive compulsive disorder, tics, depression, aggression, changes in school performance, sensory or motor difficulties, sleep disturbances, anxiety, anorexia, hyperactivity and wetting the bed. These symptoms can flare depending on the time of year, level of stress, and exposure to infections/toxins. This can be very difficult situation for a families to go through to try to find acknowledgement of the condition. Children are often misunderstood and misdiagnosed with mental illness. The underlying infection needs to be treated to reduce or eliminate symptoms to improve the child’s quality of life.