Understanding PANS and PANDAS: Pediatric Neuropsychiatric Disorders

What is PANS & PANDAS?

PANS and PANDAS are neuropsychiatric disorders that primarily affect children and are characterized by sudden and severe onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms. They are believed to result from an abnormal immune response triggered by infections, most commonly streptococcal infections. Some common symptoms include:

  • Anxiety

  • OCD

  • Extreme food limitations

  • Irritability

  • Aggressive behavior

  • Regressive behavior

  • Sleep disturbances

It's important to note that these symptoms often appear abruptly and can be mistaken for other conditions, making diagnosis challenging.

At Functional Medicine Collaborative we can help.

Dr. Foss specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric neuropsychiatric disorders, including PANS and PANDAS and can help your child on their path to recovery. Our approach to diagnosis includes:

Thorough Medical History: We gather a detailed medical history to understand your child's symptoms and potential triggers.

Clinical Assessment: We will perform a comprehensive clinical assessment to evaluate your child's neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Laboratory Testing: We may use laboratory tests to identify underlying infections or immune system abnormalities.

Dr. Foss will then provide you with a personalized treatment plan to fit your child’s specific needs. This plan may include the following:

Nutritional Support: We will provide dietary guidance and recommend nutritional supplements to support the immune system and reduce inflammation. This can be especially important in managing these conditions as dietary factors may influence immune function and symptom severity.

Immune System Support: Dr. Foss will use natural approaches to support and balance the immune system. This could include herbal remedies, supplements, or dietary changes that aim to modulate the immune response.

Detoxification Support: Detoxifying the body can help it eliminate toxins that may be contributing to symptoms. This can be particularly relevant if environmental toxins or heavy metals are suspected as triggers.

Stress Management: Stress can exacerbate neuropsychiatric symptoms. We incorporate stress-reduction techniques, such as mindfulness, meditation, and relaxation exercises, into treatment plans to help manage stress and improve overall well-being.

Gut Health: There is growing recognition of the gut-brain connection in neuropsychiatric disorders. Dr. Foss may address gut health through dietary changes, probiotics, and other gut-supportive therapies, as a balanced gut microbiome can play a role in immune regulation and overall health.

We understand the challenges that PANS and PANDAS can present for both children and their families. Our team provides ongoing support, monitoring, and follow-up to ensure that your child is progressing well and receiving the care they need.

If you suspect your child has PANS or PANDAS schedule a consultation to begin the journey toward diagnosis and treatment.

FAQs

  • No these are not the same thing although they have many similarities. These are both autoimmune diseases and patients with these disorders often have similar symptoms.

  • PANS stands for Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome. It is an autoimmune disease caused by infections and/or toxins.

  • PANDAS stands for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcus. The contributor for PANDAS is Streptococcus.

  • For some children it is curable. For many of our patients we have found full or partial remission, improvement, cure. But the complexities of this disease often times require multiple modalities and even practitioners to help the child recover. These are often long-term lifestyle changes.