PANDAS / PANS
New Hampshire Clinic

PANDASPANS New Hampshire Clinic

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.

PANDAS and PANS are disorders related to rapid changes of the behavior of a child or young adult.

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.

Diagnosing PANDAS

PANDAS is diagnosed with confirmation of Group A streptococcal bacteria (the cause of strep throat and scarlet fever.) This can be done by obtaining a throat swab and sending it for overnight culture and/or by a blood test with elevated antistreptococcal titers (ASO and anti-DNase).

Rapid strep tests can be inconclusive. Strep causing PANDAS often is “silent” and produces few or no symptoms of a sore throat.

There may also be re-activation of neuropsychiatric symptoms in children if there is exposure in school or at home with others who are sick with Strep infections. This can be seasonal.

Diagnosing PANS

As a clinical syndrome, Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) is a diagnosis based on the signs, symptoms, and medical history of the patient rather than on laboratory tests or medical imaging. This does not determine the cause of the symptoms, nor does it determine an appropriate course of treatment. Testing and in-depth history with physical helps to rule out other causes. In our experience there are typically other infections or toxicity that is related to the symptoms.

We commonly test for other infections such as Tick-borne disease, Mycoplasma pneumonia, Mold Biotoxin Illness, inflammation in the digestive tract and any other stressors impacting the neuropsychiatric imbalance.  There are specialty labs such as the Cunningham Panel and Neuro-Zoomer which evaluates level of neuroinflammation. 

The symptoms are usually dramatic, happening overnight.

Common Symptoms

  • Obsessive, compulsive, and repetitive behaviors.

  • Depression and suicidal thoughts.

  • Separation anxiety, fear, and panic attacks.

  • Emotional and developmental regression.

  • Visual or auditory hallucinations.

  • Incessant screaming, irritability, mood changes.

Treatment for PANDAS/PANS

Typically, this is accomplished with a combination of antibiotic therapy and natural medicine support. Natural medication support assists in reducing inflammation, improving integrity of the digestive tract, eliminate toxins, reducing impact of symptom flares, and resolving infection. 

Let us help.

If you’re curious about PANDAS and PANS treatment and are in the New England area, please call our office. We’d love to help answer any questions you might have.