Imagine having a bubbly, precocious child suddenly plagued by tics, compulsions, mood swings, and a loss of skills. Imagine going to various developmental specialists, neurologists, and psychiatrists searching for answers. You may hear diagnoses of OCD, autism, Tourette Syndrome, and even bipolar disorder thrown at you, while your child is put through hours of assessments.

What if all of the symptoms were caused by a strep infection?

PANS stands for Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome, and it effects 1 in 200 children. It occurs when an infection triggers an immune response causing brain inflammation and life-changing psychiatric symptoms. My latest post for Richmond Moms Blog is all about PANS and the important work of the PANS Research and Advocacy Initiative (PRAI) in Virginia. Read all about it here!