PANS/PANDAS
- PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome): A clinical diagnosis describing sudden-onset neuropsychiatric symptoms (mainly OCD and/or severe eating restrictions), often following an infection, immune response, or environmental trigger.
- PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections): A subset of PANS specifically triggered by a Group A Streptococcal infection (like strep throat), causing an autoimmune response that affects the brain.
Key Features
- Abrupt onset of symptoms, often overnight
- Immune system mistakenly attacks the brain (esp. basal ganglia)
- Most common in children, typically ages 3–13
- Symptoms often wax and wane or flare with infections
Symptoms
Sudden onset of:
- Obsessive-compulsive behaviors (OCD)
- Tics (motor or vocal)
- Anxiety, especially separation anxiety
- Emotional outbursts, irritability, depression
- Regression (baby talk, bedwetting)
- Sensory sensitivities
- Sleep issues
- Eating restrictions or food refusal
- Handwriting changes (dysgraphia)
- Cognitive decline or "brain fog"
Causes / Triggers
- PANDAS: Triggered by strep infections
- PANS: Broader causes:
- Viral infections (e.g., HSV-1, Epstein-Barr, HHV6)
- Lyme disease
- Mycoplasma
- Environmental factors
- Mold exposure
- Metabolic disturbances
Find out more by contacting us online or calling our Irvine integrative medicine center at (949) 860-7088.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product/service is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This service is not intended to replace consultation with a licensed medical professional.
Integrative Medicine Orange County
PANS and PANDAS both involve neuropsychiatric disorders that come on suddenly and unexpectedly in children. Although they may have similar symptoms, PANDAS is recognized as a subset of PANS. PANDAS involves a sudden onset of neuropsychiatric disorders associated specifically with streptococcal infections like strep throat, scarlet fever, or perianal strep. The direct cause of PANS is unknown in many cases but is thought to be linked to metabolic disturbances, infections, or other inflammatory reactions that interrupt a child’s normal neurologic activity.
In both PANS and PANDAS, a child may suddenly exhibit the following symptoms, sometimes overnight:
- Signs of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Eating disorders
- Depression
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Difficulty with schoolwork
- Loss of handwriting skills
- Tics and involuntary muscle movements
- Hyperactivity
- Insomnia and other sleep disturbances
Some children with PANS or PANDAS may be misdiagnosed with psychiatric illnesses and treated solely with psychotropic drugs, which may not actually address the root cause of their problems. With the proper treatment, PANS and PANDAS patients can have symptoms relieved or eliminated entirely. Our goal is to properly diagnose these conditions so we can then provide the most effective treatment through integrative medicine.
What if you could address the underlying cause of PANS or PANDAS?
Call our Irvine integrative medicine center to find out more about integrative treatment options: (949) 860-7088.
