If you were asked what you know about PANDAS, you would probably say that they are black and white and eat bamboo, and you would be right, and yes, PANS are for cooking?
However, did you know that a rather alarming and quite sinister addition to the ever increasing list of modern day disorders is known as the PANDAS syndrome, or to give it its correct title, Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections?
It is an increasingly talked about illness, which affects mainly children and is linked to the child having had a Streptococcal Infection.
Usually associated with sore throats, Strep. infections can also be found in other ailments such as scarlet fever, pneumonia and cellulitis.
The symptoms can be of sudden onset, and can be quite devastating.
Parents often tell of their normal, healthy, happy, articulate well balanced child, literally change overnight into an almost unrecognizable one.
Features can vary from aggression, crying, screaming, neurological changes, obsessive compulsion to fear, anxiety and depression.
School can be disrupted, relationships strained to breaking point, irrational and strange behaviour with sleeping and eating patterns often distorted.
The child does not understand what is happening to them and cannot accurately describe how they feel, which adds to the distress for all concerned.
Unfortunately a visit to a general practitioner will probably not bring the help which is needed.
Many G.P.s have not heard of this condition and most likely will lump it in with another mental health issue, or say that such a condition does not exist.
They may prescribe an antibiotic, or some medication to treat the anxiety or depression, which is really just papering over the cracks, and / or may make a referral to a paediatric psychiatrist.
Given the U.K. shortage of mental health services, a referral may take months, which is not acceptable when dealing with such severe symptoms.
Many distraught parents go down the private health care route for a faster appointment, but there is no guarantee that the relevant specialists will be familiar with this disorder either.
The condition requires input from not just a psychiatrist, but a neurologist and ideally an immunologist and rheumatologist as well, which is a huge ask in today`s current health climate.
A great deal of the research and ongoing work is being carried out in the United States and Canada, with interest and contributions from a variety of countries world wide.
Sadly the U.K. lags very far behind, and is still taking the view in many quarters that the condition does not exist, as there is not enough documented evidence to support it.
This does not help an increasing number of children suffering from this debilitating disorder, along with their parents and siblings who have to deal with these bizarre and extremely sad cases.
What is causing all of this?
Put simply, it would seem it is due to inflammation of the brain.
When a Strep. infection invades the body, the bacteria causes inflammation and infection.
In the large majority of cases, the episode runs its course and disappears, with the immune system having played its part by fighting the bacteria. It may or may not have been treated with antibiotics and most people recover uneventfully.
In a small, but seemingly increasing number of children, the immune system does not seem to respond as it should, and allows the Strep. bacteria to reach and affect the brain by causing part of the brain tissue to become inflamed and swollen. This irritates the area which contains the sensitive parts which control behaviour and emotions, resulting in distressing meltdowns, together with anxiety, fear, depression, and often doing obsessive things such as excessive hand washing.
Because research is still in its infancy, treatment is also in its early stages.
Antibiotic therapy seems to still be the number one treatment, but alternatives are also being tried such as immune boosting infusions.
Some professionals are preferring a more natural route, but all stress the the importance of appropriate diet.
Despite the reluctance of many medical personnel recognizing the existence of this disorder, the numbers seem to be increasing, with often the parents having to do the basic research themselves.
They know something drastic and devastating has happened to their child, but find it difficult to access support.
Until recently, PANDAS was linked only to Strep infections.
As a result of further research, and increasing case numbers, another definition has been added.
It has now been found that other bacterial triggers can have similar outcomes. These are known as PANS, which stands for Paediatric Acute - onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome.
To date, other known illnesses which can affect the immune system in the same way, are Lyme disease, chickenpox, flu and perhaps not surprisingly, Covid.
Covid itself has been producing large numbers of people who have been suffering from Long Covid, which can affect the auto immune system with a variety of symptoms varying from severe fatigue and breathlessness, through to not being able to leave bed!
Probably one of the first conditions of this type to be in the spotlight was that of M.E. (Myalgic encephalomyelitis), also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, some years ago.
Whilst it is thought that the condition had been around for a very long time, it had not had much recognition or publicity.
It took to the 1980/90s before it was properly recognized with recommended treatments and rehabilitation available.
Individuals who suffered from it were often ridiculed, accused of malingering and told that the condition did not exist and it was all a figment of the person`s mind.
How wrong that assessment was. It is a debilitating condition affecting the auto immune system, resulting in excessive fatigue which rest does not cure. Thankfully It is now recognized as such.
What can be causing these modern day illnesses?
There are probably many factors involved, including age, diet, medication, infection and pollution.
However, we cannot ignore what we have been bombarding our bodies with through ingestion, absorption and inhalation.
The immune system is nature`s way of dealing with and regulating unwanted dangers to our health.
We fight infection by producing white blood cells, and other unseen miracles are constantly at work repairing and preventing damage, both outside and inside our body.
Since the revolution in medical breakthroughs of the 20th century, pharmaceutical inventions have increased dramatically.
Medications of all sorts have been produced to artificially heal and stabilize the body. This has been hugely successful, with antibiotics in particular having revolutionized many medical and surgical outcomes.
Perhaps the body`s natural immune system became a little bit redundant and not required due to the extensive use of medications, and when it was needed had lost part of its strength.
It seems that for many of these conditions, the immune system is not quite the efficient system it once was, and is now almost working against itself.
It is certainly a worrying trend, as these disorders seem closely linked in many ways but completely separate in others.
It is worth mentioning that alongside all of this is the rise in spectrum disorders such as autism and ADHD.
These are areas of which research and treatments are rather hit and miss, as they are relatively new and complex, dealing with how the brain interacts and sends signals around the body.
We must also throw things like steroids and hormonal additions such as the contraceptive pill and HRT into the mix. These are very powerful, and only a very little hormone is needed to have a profound effect.
They do the job they are meant to do extremely well, but are they having other effects too?
If we look at ourselves, most of us are walking chemical cocktails, taking chemicals and hormones into our bodies to supposedly make ourselves clean and healthy, but inadvertently may have dampened down our own natural helper, the immune system.
We are at the mercy of chemicals from when we get up in the morning until we go to bed.
Chemicals are in our shower gel, cosmetics, toiletries, breakfast food, washing liquids, cleaning products, cars, buses, work places, processed food and drink, and of course medications.
Not content with that, we indulge on mobile phones, device screens, work and TV screens all of which are emitting powerful artificial rays.
Is it any wonder that our bodies and immune systems are a bit confused as have been totally knocked off their delicate balance by this toxic invasion.
PANDAS and PANS conditions are not life threatening and thankfully with treatment, a normal life can return, although there may be a tendency for flare ups if the trigger is encountered again.
If treatment has not been made available, some aspects of the condition may become chronic.
It is therefore no surprize that once again Mother Nature is not happy with us, but are we listening?
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Anyone wishing to find out further information on PANS and PANDAS, may contact the following PANS PANDAS UK website:
https://panspandasuk.org
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DICLAIMER:
This article is for interest purposes only.
The information given can be freely found on the internet, and is not intended for diagnostic purposes.
Anyone wishing further information should contact an appropriate website or an appropriate health professional.
The opinions expressed are those of the author.
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