Parents describe it as a sudden, out-of-the-blue onset of symptoms that are perplexing, alarming — and often misunderstood.
Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections, or PANDAS, is the term used to describe a life-changing condition that affects some children following illness with strep throat, or other viral or bacterial infection.
Tics, obsessive compulsive behaviors, and the onset of anxiety seem to appear overnight in children who were not otherwise affected.
Many parents have struggled to find treatment — or even a diagnosis — for the condition, which is just beginning to be understood by researchers and medical professionals.
Connecting with other parents has helped many families to try to identify, understand, and learn about treatment options for children who may suffer from PANDAS.
Learn more at www.pandasnetwork.org.
A meeting for parents, caregivers and others who are interested (no children, please) will take place this Saturday, April 21, at 1 pm at Coco’s, a restaurant located at 4700 N. Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale.
