Study casts doubt on PANDAS
Friday October 1, 2004
A study published in the September 2004 issue of Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine does not find a link between group A streptoccal infection and PANDAS (pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infection). In the study, 814 children were seen in a primary care clinic for either well-child care (196 children), sore throat presumed to be caused by a virus (207 children), or sore throat due to group A strep infection (399 children). Parents completed a questionnaire at the visit, after two weeks, and after three months about symptoms common to PANDAS such as tics and obsessive-compulsive behavior. All three groups of children were reported to have similar rates of symptoms. The researchers concluded that there was no evidence to support a link between group A strep infection and PANDAS.
Comments
PANDAS is a rare disease, but very real to those who suffer from it. In this study a small sample of children with strep showed no signs of tics or OCD after strep. Clearly, the study did not include any children with PANDAS.
PANDAS is a serious diagnosis.
If the study only included 814 chilren and PANDAS is rare then there is a strong chance that none of these children had PANDAS. I am a mother of a PANDAS child and I know for a fact it is real. I see it everyday in my son, My Hero, and lab tests confirm it. My son is proof that PANDAS is real. My son is so brave and I am so proud of him.
PANDAS is AS REAL as rheumatic fever and very similiar. No doctors dispute that rheumatic fever is “real”. I am shocked that doctors are still arguing whether PANDAS is real, instead of focusing on research to come up with ways to help our children. I have seen PANDAS firsthand for 7 years and I am frustrated with the lack of knowledge about it in our health professionals.
I agree with the previous posts. Clearly just because no children with PANDAS were found in the study group does not negate the existence of PANDAS.
I find it astonishing that researchers still dispute the existence of PANDAS. If any one of them had a child who literally woke up one day with hours of obsessions and compulsions, I imagine the issue would be settled far more rapidly. First hand expereince is both shocking and concrete. Literally these kids go to bed fine one day, and then terrifyingly ill the next moment.
I can’t believe we are still desputing if PANDAS exists. My son has had PANDAS episodes for five years after a confirmed strep infection with high fevers and chorea movements. We have suffered through many Dr’s who don’t know how to treat him. My little boy now has ADD, OCD, and tics and gross motor delays as a result of these episodes. I am left to wonder if he was treated sooner and more aggressively would he now not have the long term damage. Call it whatever you want, PANDAS, rheumatic fever, whatever, but give it a place in textbooks so Dr’s can help these kids and families who are suffering. To see your child’s health and personality slip away from a strep infection is terrifying. How do we treat these kids?
Need to know if there is a parent support group on Panda?
I would like to know if there is a support group for children with PANDAS?
Yes, there are support groups for PANDAS. I think the best, most informative, is lattitudes.com