PANDAS syndrome is a neuropsychiatric disorder caused by group A Beta hemolytic streptococci (colloquially known as beta microbes, which often cause the disease known as inflamed tonsils). Throat infection occurs when group A Beta hemolytic streptococci first enter the body. Afterwards, various tics and obsessions and other OCD symptoms appear following this infection. PANDAS was created by taking the initials of the English words autoimmune neuropsychiatric disease that develops with streptococcal infection in children. PANDAS syndrome is known as a cause of OCD that begins in childhood and adolescence. This disease, which has been known for many years, has revealed that microorganisms can affect the brain structure. Today, it may be one of the proofs that some microorganisms affect human behavior and especially how strong the relationship between intestinal flora and the brain is.
PANDAS symptoms generally appear between the ages of 3 and adolescence. These symptoms consist of tic disorders and OCD. Rapid onset of symptoms, sudden onset, and occasional flare-ups are typical findings of this disease.
The most common tics in PANDAS syndrome
Motor tics
p>Vocal Tics
Coughing
Eye blinking
Shrug
Throat clearing
Head movements
Sniffing
Word/sentence repetitions
The most common obsession and compulsion in PANDAS syndrome
Contamination obsession, washing
Harming self-others
Doubt obsession, checking things over and over again
Symmetry obsession, order compulsion
Religious obsession
Repetition
The process initiated by the infection affects a region of the brain called the basal ganglia with an autoimmune mechanism, causing tics and obsession symptoms.
In children diagnosed with PANDAS, in addition to obsessive-compulsive disorder and/or tics, personality changes, attention problems, learning problems, sleep disorders, decrease in school success, irritability, night urination and anxiety disorder are observed. Clicks can also be seen. In untreated cases, neuropsychiatric findings may persist for a lifetime.
A history of throat infection should be carefully monitored in these patients. It is also important to perform a throat culture analysis and a Cranial Magnetic Resonance examination, which is a brain examination. Immunological treatments such as antibiotic therapy, steroids or plasmapheresis are more prominent in the treatment.
Read: 0
