Imagine waking up one morning and your previously healthy child has suddenly started repeating phrases over and over again, like she is compelled to do so. Out of the blue, your middle schooler can’t sit still at the breakfast table due to uncontrollable tics, and her handwriting has deteriorated. She starts getting in trouble at school for unexplained outbursts, and she no longer sleeps at night.
Overnight, the child you knew has become a stranger you hardly recognize.
This scenario is a reality for parents whose children are diagnosed with a disorder that is becoming more prevalent - Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS).
PANS and PANDAS often present with the sudden onset of neurological symptoms, and commonly present as behavioral issues, extreme anxiety, mood swings, obsessive compulsive disorder, and/or tics. When symptoms arise, parents are often at a loss for what is happening to their child.
Even when a diagnosis is made, families are often left with more questions than answers. PANS/PANDAS are not well-known or well-understood disorders. Because there is no known cure, and much is still unknown about the disease, parents and patients still may wonder what steps can be taken to help manage symptoms.
What is PANS/PANDAS?
The two disorders are similar, and the acronyms are typically combined, but they are actually two different diagnoses.
Both are disorders, most common in children, characterized by sudden onset of obsessive compulsive disorders, acute changes in behavior, restricted eating, tics, sleep disturbances, emotional lability, anxiety, severe oppositional behavior, sudden deterioration in school performance, enuresis and more. A full list of symptoms can be found here.
The key difference between the diagnoses is that PANDAS is linked to streptococcal infection (commonly known as strep throat), PANS is thought to be caused by the body’s reaction to Lyme disease, mycoplasmal pneumonia, Babecia, or Bordetella.
While scientists are still uncovering the reasons some children develop PANS/PANDAS after these infections and others do not, much research is being done. Visit PANDAS Physician Network to dive deeper into the science and research behind PANS/PANDAS.
Diagnosing PANS/PANDAS
Diagnosing a child with PANS/PANDAS is often not clear cut. Many patients do not present with typical symptoms related to their initial infection.
For example, a child with PANDAS may exhibit a tic, OCD tendencies, or extreme anxiety but never complain of a sore throat.
This makes finding the root cause a bit of a guessing game for physicians. A Complete Blood Count Test (CBC) may reveal an infection that can be treated with antibiotics.
While these medicines can heal the infection and therefore, eliminate the “flare” of neurological symptoms, they do not treat those symptoms long-term.
For many patients the extreme anxiety, tics, and changes in behavior are much more debilitating than infection itself. While the use of modern medicine may ease these symptoms, it usually will not eliminate them completely.
That’s why many families dealing with PANS/PANDAS are seeking out alternative health care to manage symptoms.
Managing PANS/PANDAS through
Chiropractic Care
Dr. Colleen Miller of Turning Point Wellness Center specializes in pediatric chiropractic care. She has developed a regimen for treating children with PANS/PANDAS that is showing promising results.
Dr. Miller’s treatment plan includes three main factors: labwork, diet, and chiropractic adjustments.
“Our son was just six when he came home from school and started saying things that didn’t make sense. Within days, his personality seemed to change, and he developed obsessive compulsive tendencies, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable tics. He was diagnosed with PANS as a result of a severe mycoplasma pneumonia infection we hadn’t known he had,” said Bethany, a Waterloo mom of a PANS child. “For the last five years we’ve seen many healthcare professionals, who have helped us manage his debilitating flares and infections. Among them all, Dr. Miller has been one of the most beneficial in helping us find a plan that helps regulate his system to control his symptoms and his illness.”
Analyzing the CBC
The first thing Dr. Miller does when treating a patient with PANS/PANDAS is request a panel of bloodwork. This can be shared from the pediatrician’s office or new lab work can be ordered.
While Dr. Miller gets the same numbers the pediatrician previously received, she is looking at a different set of values. A medical doctor is looking at a range of numbers that tell them whether or not the patient is sick. This tells them if the body is fighting off a bacteria, fungus, or virus so they know which medicine to use to heal the patient.
Dr. Miller looks at a narrower range of numbers to determine how well the body is functioning. By looking at the functional range, she can assess the numbers in between “sick” and 100% healthy. The lab work tells her how organs like the kidneys and liver are functioning and gives her insight as to what areas need to be addressed.
Changes in Diet
Next come changes in diet. Dr. Miller will order a food sensitivity test to look at which foods may be triggering inflammation or causing other reactions.
Things like gluten and dairy are often culprits of inflammation. Also, ingredients like sugars and dyes may trigger behavioral changes.
If the child is unable or unwilling, as many PANS/PANDAS patients develop food restrictions, supplements may be necessary to ensure the body is getting all the nutrients and vitamins it needs to stay healthy and function properly.
Chiropractic Adjustments
Dr. Miller will also perform chiropractic adjustments on PANS/PANDAS patients. PANS/PANDAS can cause patients to be stuck in sympathetic overdrive. This means that while bodies usually respond by fight, flight, or freeze, these children are stuck in flight mode. This sympathetic overdrive can lead to anxiety, ADHD symptoms, behavior issues, sleep loss, food restriction and so many of the symptoms associated with PANS/PANDAS. By adjusting certain vertebrae, Dr. Miller is able to relieve patients of sympathetic overdrive leading them to feel instantly calmer and more relaxed.
Routine Maintenance
While all of these steps work in tandem to relieve patients of symptoms related to PANS/PANDAS and keep their bodies functioning at an optimal level, it is, unfortunately, not a “one and done” treatment.
To keep PANS/PANDAS sufferers healthy, all three of these pillars must be maintained. Unfortunately for these kids, inflammation can sneak up at any time and cause an unwelcome flare of neurological symptoms.
To keep their bodies healthy and better able to fight off infection, Dr. Miller recommends annual bloodwork, a strict diet with supplements if needed, and regular chiropractic adjustments.
A Leader in Pediatric Chiropractic Care
Dr. Miller is both flattered and grateful for her reputation as a pediatric chiropractic expert in the area. She says, “I feel honored that they allow me to help their kids. They could go anywhere – for them to come here? We’re pretty blessed.”
Her scope of pediatric chiropractic care goes well beyond treating PANS/PANDAS. Dr. Miller or one of the other physicians at Turning Point can help your child deal with any of these diagnoses through chiropractic care:
- ADHD
- Anxiety
- Blood Sugar Regulation
- Constipation
- Eczema
- Focus
- Food Sensitivity
- Injury
- Musculoskeletal Pain
- Rashes
- Sleep Issues
- Stomach Pain
- Weight Issues
If you think your child could benefit from chiropractic care, please contact Turning Point Wellness Center in Red Bud at 618-282-3900 or in Waterloo at 618-939-5585 to schedule an appointment.