PANS and PANDAS
PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) and PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) are both conditions characterised by a sudden onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms in children. Here’s a breakdown of each:
PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome)
Definition:
PANS is a broader term that describes a sudden onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or eating restrictions, along with at least two other neuropsychiatric symptoms. These symptoms can include anxiety, emotional lability or depression, irritability, aggression, behavioural regression, and sensory or motor abnormalities.
Causes:
The exact cause of PANS is not well understood. It can be triggered by various factors, including infections, metabolic disturbances, and other inflammatory reactions.
Symptoms:
Abrupt, dramatic onset of OCD or severely restricted food intake.
Concurrent presence of additional neuropsychiatric symptoms from at least two of the following categories:
Anxiety
Emotional lability and/or depression
Irritability, aggression, and/or severe oppositional behaviors
Behavioral (developmental) regression
Deterioration in school performance (related to ADHD-like symptoms, memory deficits, cognitive changes)
Sensory or motor abnormalities
Somatic signs and symptoms, including sleep disturbances, enuresis, or urinary frequency
PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections)
Definition:
PANDAS is a subset of PANS. It specifically refers to cases where the sudden onset of OCD or tic disorders is temporally associated with a streptococcal infection (e.g., strep throat).
Causes:
PANDAS is believed to be triggered by the body's immune response to a streptococcal infection. The hypothesis is that the immune system's response to the infection mistakenly attacks parts of the brain, particularly the basal ganglia, leading to neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Symptoms:
Symptoms are similar to those of PANS, but with a clear relationship to a streptococcal infection.
Symptoms can also include:
Motor or vocal tics
Sudden onset of severe OCD
Other neuropsychiatric symptoms as listed under PANS
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis:
Diagnosis of PANS and PANDAS is clinical, based on the sudden onset of symptoms and the exclusion of other possible causes.
For PANDAS, confirmation of a recent streptococcal infection is necessary.
Treatment:
Homeopathic treatment of PANS and PANDAS is individual, depending on the child’s timeline, symptoms and behaviours.
We would usually prescribe some form of homeopathic nosode (the remedy made from the virus/bacteria/mould etc that caused the deranged immune reaction), but we would also include remedies to help address the reason WHY the immune malfunctioned in this way.
The reason for this is usually a multifaceted combination of factors, including excessive vaccination (most children have 20+ separate doses of vaccines before the age of 18 mths), interference of our immune system (that mostly stems from the gut) from the use of antibiotics, derangement of health from contaminated foods (pesticide, food additives etc), possible sensitivity to wifi and EMF, prolonged mould exposure, underlying Lyme disease etc..
Treatment of PANS or PANDAS is recommended via a Homeopathic practitioner, as we will be able to give you specific remedies to help while we work on the underlying condition, but there are some homeopathic remedies you can try in the moment to help during a flare.
Use 200c 2-3 times a day, reducing on improvement.
Belladonna …Violent outbursts, rage, dilated pupils, high fevers
Apis…high histamine, urticaria, rage
Hyoscyamus…violence, may look like belladonna but there is crude behaviour, swearing etc
Aconite…panic attack/anxiety in the moment
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