If your child recently suddenly had signs of obsessive compulsive disorder after an illness, he or she may have PANDAS or PANS, which stand for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome. Here's what you need to know and how to get treatment for your child:

PANDAS & PANS

Some illnesses produce an inflammation in the basal ganglia region of children's brains. The immune system gets triggered and mistakenly attacks the normal tissues instead of the infectious molecules because the molecules mimic the normal tissues, which is called molecular mimicry. The basal ganglia is believed to be responsible for behavior and movement. Since this area of the brain is affected, the result is neuropsychiatric disorders.

Associated Illnesses

When this phenomenon was first discovered, it was believed to only be caused by strep infection and, therefore, the term PANDAS was developed. Since then, researchers have discovered that strep infection is not the only illness that can cause neuropsychiatric behaviors in children. It's been found that Lyme disease, mono, rheumatic fever, H1N1 flu virus, and walking pneumonia can also cause the same symptoms, which lead to the term PANS. PANS did not replace PANDAS, but PANDAS became a subset of PANS.

Symptoms

Obsessive compulsive disorder behaviors are the primary symptom of these conditions. However, the OCD comes on suddenly instead of over time. Children may also have severe separation anxiety, tics, deteriorating handwriting, sensory issues, bedwetting, and memory challenges. They may have difficulty eating and be inconsolable. If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, it's essential that you seek a diagnosis, which can be done clinically by a physician, so treatment can begin.

Treatment

Treatment is crucial for children with PANS or PANDAS because the symptoms can be life-threatening due to the compulsive behaviors and the inability to eat. Treatment for these conditions includes medication, counseling, and cognitive behavioral therapy, which involves exposure and response prevention. A therapist will need to speak with your child to determine the extent of their neuropsychiatric symptoms so a tailored plan can be implemented based on your child's needs.

Schooling

If your child is diagnosed with one of these conditions, it's important to make your child's school aware so the faculty can support therapeutic treatment by doing this such as extending the time for tests and providing frequent breaks. Also, the school needs to be aware that there may be many absences due to their disorder. A physician like http://livinghopeclinic.org can provide letters to the school recommending accommodations for your child.