Group A strep increases risk for behavior or movement disorders? Study says yes

For quite some time scientists have been interested in the relationship between group A streptococcal infections (GAS) and movement disorders (such as Tourette syndrome), abnormal behavior (such as grimacing or swaying), and neuropsychiatric disorders (such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, OCD). Some studies have supported an association between strep infection and behavior or motor changes in children; other studies showed no relationship at all.

A study published in the February 1, 2007, issue of Biological Psychiatry adds to the discussion. Researchers at the University of Florida, Gainesville, studied 693 elementary school children for 8 months. They found that 5 children (0.7%) developed a movement disorder (such as a tic) after a GAS infection, and 64 children who repeatedly tested positive for GAS had significantly higher rates of abnormal behavior and purposeless movements of the arms or legs (such as Sydenham chorea). The researchers note that although GAS infection does seem to increase the risk for motor disorders and abnormal behavior, more research is needed to figure out how GAS might be related to neuropsychiatric disorders.

• Bugs, PANDAS, and Tics
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• Researchers caution against linking strep and OCD