|
|
WHAT IS 'PANDAS'?
|
|
"PANDAS" is an acronym for
"Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Associated with Streptococcal
Infections."
- The term PANDAS is
generally used to describe a subgroup of
children who have either a tic
disorder (such as
Tourette's Syndrome) or Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder and whose tics, obsessions, and/or
compulsions typically worsen
dramatically following
streptococcal infections or children who
have no prior history or tics, obsessions, and
compulsions but who suddenly "explode" in
symptoms following a Group A ß-hemolytic
streptococcal infection.
-
- What parents refer to as
"strep throat" is one form of streptococcal
infection. In some cases, parents may be aware
that their child had a strep throat in the
recent past, but in other cases, the child may
have (or have had) a strep infection without it
being detected.
-
- While research has
focused on bacterial infections, there are
clinical reports of viral infections also being
associated with acute onset or dramatic
exacerbation of OCD or Tourette's Syndrome.
There are also clinical reports that suggest
that it may not just be tics and
obsessive-compulsive symptoms that are acutely
worsened. Some reports also suggest that
children or teens who have this PANDAS problem
may also experience acute-onset or worsening of
separation
anxiety and
mood
problems.
-
- PANDAS is thought to
represent a type of auto-immune problem: instead
of the body's antibodies fighting an infection,
they attack the healthy cells in the basal
ganglia of the brain, causing the acute
worsening of symptoms.
|
|
COMMENTS
|
|
The research on PANDAS is
considered controversial or contentious. From a
practical standpoint, however, if a student's
parent tells you that their child is a "PANDAS"
child, then use that information to expect that if
the child has been ill or has an infection
(including an ear infection or sinus infection),
they may have many more symptoms and much more
severe symptoms of tics, obsessions, compulsions,
depression, and anxiety (if they were already prone
to those problems).
|
|
