PANS as distinguished from PANDAS.
These two conditions are often associated with each other but they are actually two separate clinical disorders caused by different things. PANS/PANDAS is a sudden onset or a huge acceleration of a pre-existing condition. I want to dive deep into it because I feel like we don't talk enough about it.
PANDAS or pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infection is exclusively triggered by the strep infection. For PANDAS, there must be a tick-borne disorder or an obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
People can have strep triggers and other things and that then becomes PANS or pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome because of the presence of multiple infections and toxin triggers. However, despite the name, it can also be an adult onset.
The most common source for PANS is a tick-borne infection which can really break down an individual’s system and thereafter causes an abrupt or sudden onset. You’ll notice the drastic changes in their OCD symptoms, severely restricted food intake, emotional lability or depression, irritability, behavioral issues, deterioration, or regression of school performance.
The sudden loss of reading ability.
I've seen kids all of a sudden lose their ability to read. And no, we're not talking about dyslexics or sensory motor abnormalities. I had a case wherein I was able to work with an elderly patient who spent his whole life figuring out what was actually going on with him.
He was an advanced student and he was flagged as a gifted student. However, he became sick and was identified as a special education student and lost the ability to read. That made him struggle a lot in his life but then, he finally figured out that it was actually Lyme disease.
He consulted with me saying he wants to get better as he is around 80% better except for his anxiety. That’s when we tried neurofeedback which completely eliminated his anxiety. It’s really amazing witnessing significant improvements as regards his condition.
What are the associated symptoms?
There's no age of onset in PANS which makes it a big deal as it can not just affect younger children but also adults. Often, the case is that the child will have soft symptoms like separation anxiety, generalized anxiety and panic immune anxiety.
You’ll also see some abnormal motor activity from hyperactivity to restlessness. A big factor causing this is the fact that ticks love getting into certain things and the visual pathways are areas they like disrupting. As a result, you might have urinary problems and exhibit irritability and aggression. Through our Calm PEMF, we address these issues, including cognitive and sensory issues.
I feel that what becomes the most crippling component of PANS and PANDAS are the OCD, rage, and school refusal. Those tend to be the most chaotic and disruptive not just for your child but also for you and other family members. In fact, at least 50% of the population deal with school refusal.
I keep on emphasizing in our previous episodes how important it is to calm your nervous system and I’ll continue to emphasize it because of how significant it is in this journey. You have to figure out what you can do to support the nervous system in healing itself. And if you suspect your child has a mental health problem, know that a sudden onset of a mental health issue is not normal.
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