It is due to theimmune system’soverreaction to streptococcal (strep) infection, not the infection itself.
This article provides an overview of PANDAS syndrome, including its symptoms, causes, treatments, and prognosis.
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Symptoms of PANDAS
PANDAS syndrome symptoms can vary from person to person.
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If you are concerned about new or usual symptoms in your child, contact your healthcare provider orpediatrician.
What Causes PANDAS?
PANDAS syndrome most commonly occurs after a strep infection.
Usually, our immune systems produce antibodies to fight an infection when we get sick.
However, with PANDAS syndrome, the antibodies overreact and misguidedly attack healthy tissues in the brain.
How Is PANDAS Diagnosed?
There are no blood tests or labs to make or confirm a PANDAS syndrome diagnosis.
A throat culture can determine if the child has strep in the throat.
If the culture is positive, a single course of antibiotics will usually cure a strep infection.
As the strep resolves, PANDAS syndrome symptoms should as well.
In some cases, a strep culture may come back negative.
Strep is abacterialnot a viralinfection.
Antibiotics are necessary to cure strep throat.
The condition will linger without antibiotics, and PANDAS syndrome symptoms can worsen.
Children who later get another strep infection can have a reemergence of symptoms.
But with antibiotic medications, PANDAS syndrome symptoms can resolve again.
Symptom duration often depends on how severe the symptoms are.
Once antibiotics are started, symptoms usually last from several weeks to months.
Every case of PANDAS is different, so it’s essential to discuss prognosis expectations with your healthcare provider.
Summary
PANDAS stands for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections.
As a result, antibodies attack healthy brain tissue.
Treatment begins with antibiotics to address the strep infection.
Upon starting antibiotics, children usually have a slow and gradual improvement in symptoms over several weeks to months.
Fortunately, PANDAS syndrome is treatable, and symptoms can resolve over time.
Remember that strep throat is a very common infection for children.
Most kids get it at some point.
The presence of strep throat does not mean your child will get PANDAS syndrome.
But if you notice a sudden onset of neurological symptoms, contact your healthcare provider right away.
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