PANDAS/PANS

Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) is a disorder that occurs in children and adolescents who show sudden obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms and/or tic disorders that are associated with strep infections, such as "strep throat" and scarlet fever.

Pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) is a newer term used to describe children with sudden OCD symptoms or restricted food intake along with other psychiatric or neurologic symptoms.

PANS and PANDAS are medical conditions that affect young children and can cause a range of behavioral disturbances and neurologic problems. 

PANS, unlike PANDAS, is not limited to children with strep infections. PANS patients have symptoms that are not better explained by known medical disorders.

For more information

• National institute of Health (NIMH) website includes detailed information on PANS and PANDAS
• PANDAS Question and Answer page from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)