SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF PANDAS

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF PANDAS

PANDAS syndrome shows us that there exists a group of individuals with OCD or tick disorders that are caused by GABHS infections. It has not been validated and recognized as a disease. The full form of PANDAS is paediatric autoimmune neuro-psychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections. This is a rare condition and is believed that one in two thousand children are affected. There can be excessive eye blinking, shoulder shrugging, and noises such as throat clearing, grunting, and saying certain words repeatedly. 

A child with un-diagnosed PANDAS is taken to psychologist or paediatrician. At the clinic check is made for any strep infection by a special blood test. There should be a constant watch on child's behaviour, mood changes, child becomes hyper, obsessive thoughts, repetitive noises or words, poor muscle control or refuses to sit at one place or always all over the place. There are no tests that can be done apart from clinical diagnosis. Only when a child has severe episodic course of OCD is when help is required. Pandas syndrome is a proposed kind of OCD. It is the body’s immune reaction to infection. A high level of a strep antibody does not confirm the presence of Pandas.

Being an autoimmune neuro-psychiatric disorder this disease shows some unique symptoms though the symptoms may vary from person to person according to the severity of the disease. The condition of the patient gets worsen if he/she is not treated in the proper time. Symptoms begin to appear suddenly and recovery period might vary, symptoms might worsen during infection but might improve in between. 

The symptoms which are mostly reported by doctors as well as the person who are affected by this disease are described in brief in the following:

• OCD: This is also known as obsessive compulsive disorders, where people constantly keep checking something, have certain thoughts repeatedly. People are not able to control their thoughts or activities.
• Common activities which are usually seen in the affected persons are washing hands, counting things, checking if the door is locked, difficulty parting from things and people. The cause is unknown and there might be some genetic components involved.
• ADHD: also known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. There are problems with attention control that causes hyperactivity or impulsiveness. These symptoms begin at the age of six to twelve. ADHD management varies from country to country and involves a series of counselling.
• Motor and verbal tics: These are sudden short lasting movements or an utterance of some sound which occurs suddenly during what is normal behaviour. These are considered to be involuntary movements. 25% children experience tics.
• Tics are sometimes followed by stress and sleep deprivation. These symptoms can be cured by proper medication.
• Muscle twitches are also called myoclonic jerks which cannot be controlled or suppressed in any way. There might be twitching in mouth, eyebrows, neck, etc.
• Psychiatric comorbidity is a common symptom for the children having this disorder.
• Sudden mental change is the most important symptom of this disease. A mentality of harm to other as well as self may be found in the affected person.