Understanding PANDAS in Kids: A Neurological and Immune System Connection
PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections) is a condition that affects children following a strep infection. It leads to a sudden and often severe onset of neurological symptoms, including anxiety, OCD-like behaviors, emotional outbursts, and motor tics. For many families, the change in their child's behavior can be alarming and feel like it happened overnight.
What Is PANDAS?
PANDAS occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy brain tissue—particularly in the basal ganglia—after a strep infection. This autoimmune response results in a wide range of neurological and behavioural symptoms, including:
- Sudden onset of obsessive-compulsive behaviours
- Anxiety or mood swings
- Regression in behaviour or academic skills
- Sleep disturbances and urinary issues
- Tics and sensory sensitivities
This condition is closely related to another disorder called PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome), which can be triggered by other infections, toxins, or stress.
Many parents feel lost when trying to find effective care, as traditional medicine often focuses on antibiotics or psychiatric medications without addressing the underlying immune and neurological imbalance.
How Chiropractic Can Help Kids with PANDAS
At Family Chiropractic Centre, we take a holistic, neurologically focused approach to helping children with PANDAS. While chiropractic care does not treat infections or autoimmune conditions directly, it does support the body's ability to regulate and heal by improving the function of the nervous system.
Here's how chiropractic care may help:
- Reduces stress on the nervous system, helping to calm overstimulation
- Supports immune system regulation through improved neurological function
- Enhances the body's ability to adapt and recover after immune challenges
- Promotes better sleep, digestion, and emotional balance
Gentle, specific chiropractic adjustments help to restore communication between the brain and body, giving the nervous system a chance to shift out of stress mode and into a state of healing. Many families report improvements in mood, focus, behavior, and overall wellbeing after beginning care.
We're here to support your child's healing journey with natural, individualized care that works in harmony with your family's needs.