PANDAS

Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections (PANDAS) at times occurs following a Streptococcal infection. Information is included here because among other symptoms, stuttering-like behavior may result. Although most children have strep infections and do not develop PANDAS, it is included here since SLPs have been seeing some children develop stuttering-behaviors, eating difficulties, regression to "baby talk" or selective mutism following a strep infection, as well as a variety of other symptoms.

Specific for Speech-Language Pathologists

  • Effects of PANDAS/PANS on Communication: What SLPs Need to Know by Kathryn Ward, MS, CCC-SLP and Jessica Edelstein, MA, CCC-SLP (Poster session at ASHA convention 2015, included here with permission of the authors)

  • Maguire, GA, Viele, SN, Argwal, S, and Franklin, DL Stuttering onset associated with streptococcal infection: A case suggesting stuttering as PANDAS Annals Of Clinical Psychiatry 2010;22(4):283-284 (letter to the editor) Summarized and Reviewed on Parents Blog and also Blog from the Indian Stammering Association

    General Information

  • Tanya K. Murphy, MD, Eric A. Storch, PhD, Adam B. Lewin, PhD, Paula J. Edge, BS, and Wayne K. Goodman, MD Clinical Factors Associated with Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections Journal of Pediatrics 2011

  • PANDAS Syndrome in the School Setting by Kathy O'Rourke, School Nurse News, September 2003, p. 34, reports on a rare post strep infection syndrome that sometimes causes, among other possible symptoms, tics, vocalizations and hyperactive behaviors often associated with Tourette syndrome.

  • PANDAS: Fact Sheet about Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections from the National Institute of Mental Health

  • PANDAS and PANS - autoimmune disorders that affect children from molecular labs provides good information for parents and patients as well as physicians.

  • Abstracts to the articles from the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology issue dedicated to PANDAS/PANS. and free, full access to a few of the articles

    Support and information for and from parents and patients

  • PANDAS Network

  • Guide to P.A.N.D.A.S. Syndrome created by "Gary" when he was 13. He is now an adult and still maintains the site occasionally.

  • One mother's story: How strep throat attacked my child's brain

  • Saving Sammy PANDAS 6 1/2 minute Today Show

  • Kirk's PANDAS story - short YouTube describing several symptoms that could be confused with stuttering.

    added November 24, 2015
    last modified July 11, 2016
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