ID Corner: Pharmacist Primer on Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS)
by Taylor Easey, PharmD
"Streptococcal infections among the pediatric population are common. Group A Streptococcus (GAS), otherwise known as Streptococcus pyogenes, is the number one cause of bacterial sore throat for pediatric patients and accounts for up to 30% of sore throats in children.1 Possible physiological complications of these infections, such as scarlet or rheumatic fever, are well known, but neuropsychiatric complications may also present. First described in the 1990s, pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS) is a reaction to streptococcal infections that produces alterations to an individual’s mood and behavior.2 Symptoms of PANDAS are consistent with symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and tic disorders that develop suddenly following GAS exposure and infection. More recently, PANDAS has been recategorized as a sub-type of pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS).3 PANS is the abrupt onset of OCD and tic disorder symptoms in pediatric patients and is non-specific in regard to origin."
Keywords: Child, Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome, Immunoglobulins, Rheumatic Fever, Chorea, Tubulin, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Tic Disorders, Pharyngitis, Interneurons, Cholinergic Agents, Ganglia, Brain
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2023 September/October Table of Contents
"Streptococcal infections among the pediatric population are common. Group A Streptococcus (GAS), otherwise known as Streptococcus pyogenes, is the number one cause of bacterial sore throat for pediatric patients and accounts for up to 30% of sore throats in children.1 Possible physiological complications of these infections, such as scarlet or rheumatic fever, are well known, but neuropsychiatric complications may also present. First described in the 1990s, pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS) is a reaction to streptococcal infections that produces alterations to an individual’s mood and behavior.2 Symptoms of PANDAS are consistent with symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and tic disorders that develop suddenly following GAS exposure and infection. More recently, PANDAS has been recategorized as a sub-type of pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS).3 PANS is the abrupt onset of OCD and tic disorder symptoms in pediatric patients and is non-specific in regard to origin."
Keywords: Child, Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome, Immunoglobulins, Rheumatic Fever, Chorea, Tubulin, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Tic Disorders, Pharyngitis, Interneurons, Cholinergic Agents, Ganglia, Brain
Download PDF
2023 September/October Table of Contents