Mission
We are a group of Houston area parents who all cope with the diagnosis of PANDAS with one or more children. Our goal is to provide support and resources to parents and families coping with PANDAS/PANS.
What is PANDAS?
PANDAS, is an abbreviation for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections. The term is used to describe a subset of children and adolescents who have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and/or tic disorders, and in whom symptoms worsen following strep. infections such as "Strep throat" and Scarlet Fever.
PANS is a newer term used to describe the larger class of acute-onset OCD cases. PANS stands for Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome and includes all cases of abrupt onset OCD, not just those associated with streptococcal infections (NIMH 2012).
There is no laboratory test that can diagnose PANDAS. Diagnosis requires your doctor to work with you and assess the symptoms in a clinical setting.
Sometimes PANDAS is not diagnosed until the patient is well beyond the pediatric stage. The only requirement is that the original onset be between 3-puberty onset.
PANS is a newer term used to describe the larger class of acute-onset OCD cases. PANS stands for Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome and includes all cases of abrupt onset OCD, not just those associated with streptococcal infections (NIMH 2012).
There is no laboratory test that can diagnose PANDAS. Diagnosis requires your doctor to work with you and assess the symptoms in a clinical setting.
Sometimes PANDAS is not diagnosed until the patient is well beyond the pediatric stage. The only requirement is that the original onset be between 3-puberty onset.
Disclaimer
We do not provide diagnosis or medical advice to anyone. This information serves only to provide support and resources for families of PANDAS/PANS patients.