Our vision is to eliminate barriers for everyone affected by
PANS PANDAS to end suffering and rebuild hope.
We’re on a mission to bring together those within and beyond the PANS PANDAS community
to improve health outcomes, deliver education, and accelerate research to help find a cure.
Video by Lisa Mae Films
PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections) and PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) are both conditions that involve a sudden or sometimes gradual onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms in children and adults, but they have different triggers and diagnostic criteria:
What is PANDAS?
Definition
A subset of PANS specifically associated with streptococcal infections.
Trigger
Symptoms are triggered by a Group A streptococcal infection (such as strep throat).
Symptoms
Often include obsessive-compulsive behaviors, tics, and other neuropsychiatric symptoms like anxiety, irritability, and mood swings.
Diagnosis
Requires evidence of a temporal relationship between the streptococcal infection and the onset of symptoms.
What is PANS?
Definition
A broader category that includes a variety of triggers, not limited to streptococcal infections.
Trigger
Symptoms can be triggered by various infections, environmental factors, or other inflammatory processes. The exact trigger might not always be identified.
Symptoms
Similar to PANDAS, including obsessive-compulsive behaviors and tics, but can also include other acute-onset neuropsychiatric symptoms like eating restrictions and changes in motor skills or sensory sensitivities.
Diagnosis
Based on the acute and severe onset of symptoms from multiple domains (such as OCD, food restriction, and other behavioral changes), with no specific requirement for a streptococcal infection.
While PANDAS is a specific type of PANS related to streptococcal infections, PANS encompasses a broader range of triggers and is defined by a set of acute neuropsychiatric symptoms rather than a specific infectious cause.
our values
we honor the well-being of everyone affected by PANS/PANDAS
we courageously create opportunities out of challenges
out-of-the-box thinking
we draw upon the wisdom of the community we serve
we embrace multi-disciplinary and integrative medicine
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