Understanding PANS/PANDAS
Explore information about PANS/PANDAS, from recognition and diagnosis to evaluation, and treatment.
What are PANS and PANDAS?
PANS and PANDAS are neuroinflammatory medical conditions in which a misdirected immune response causes inflammation in the brain, leading to abrupt-onset psychiatric and neurological symptoms.
PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) is a clinical syndrome characterized by the sudden onset of OCD and/or restrictive eating, accompanied by other acute neuropsychiatric symptoms.
PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) is a subset of PANS associated with Group A Streptococcus and defined by specific diagnostic criteria.
Recognizing PANS/PANDAS
PANS and PANDAS are characterized by the acute onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Onset may follow an infection and can include obsessive-compulsive symptoms, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), motor and sensory abnormalities, anxiety, irritability, depression, sleep disturbances, urinary symptoms, and changes in behavior. Symptoms and severity can fluctuate.
Diagnosis and Evaluation
Diagnostic Flowcharts
A structured workflow that guides clinicians through key clinical patterns and diagnostic criteria to support evaluation, developed with input from multidisciplinary experts.
Seeing Your First Child with PANS/PANDAS
An introduction of the clinical presentation, symptom descriptions, diagnostic evaluation, and expected outcomes of PANS and PANDAS.
PANS Symptom Rating Scale
The PANS Rating Scale is a symptom tracking tool widely used in clinical practice and research to identify and quantify the severity of symptoms associated with PANS.
Treatment and Management
Treatment and management of PANS/PANDAS are individualized based on the child’s symptoms, clinical findings, and contributing factors. Care may address infections, inflammation, and the management of neuropsychiatric symptoms.
PPN’s treatment workflows provide a guide to symptom severity based treatment for children diagnosed with PANS/PANDAS.
Treatment Charts →