PANS/PANDAS
What is PANS/PANDAS?
Did your child seem to change overnight?
PANS and PANDAS are conditions associated with sudden onset symptoms such as anxiety, OCD behaviors, tics, emotional dysregulation, sleep disturbances, sensory sensitivities, and difficulty concentrating.
These changes often occur following an infection or other immune trigger (Strep, Covid, etc). However, while PANDAS is linked to strep infections, PANS recognizes that many factors may contribute to immune dysregulation and inflammation.
Many parents describe feeling as though their child became a different person almost overnight. Unlike many childhood conditions that develop gradually, PANS/PANDAS often presents as a sudden and significant change in a child's behavior, emotions, learning, or daily functioning.
Common Symptoms of PANS/PANDAS
Children with PANS/PANDAS experience a range of symptoms that often appear suddenly and may fluctuate in intensity over time. These symptoms can significantly impact a child's daily functioning, academic performance, relationships, and quality of life AND because symptoms often appear suddenly and can wax and wane over time, many of our parents struggle for years before receiving support. Not to mention it can all feel SO CONFUSING!
Suddenly developed obsessive or compulsive thoughts or behaviors?
Developed new fears, anxiety, or panic?
Become unusually emotional, irritable, or quick to anger?
Shown aggressive behavior or increased defiance?
Developed motor or vocal tics?
Started restricting foods or developed difficulty swallowing?
Experienced a sudden decline in school performance?
Developed difficulty focusing or symptoms that resemble ADHD?
Developed difficulty focusing or symptoms that resemble ADHD?
Shown a noticeable deterioration in handwriting?
Lost fine motor skills or become unusually clumsy?
Begun speaking or behaving as though they were younger than their age?
Developed separation anxiety?
Started urinating frequently or wetting the bed after previously being potty trained?
Experienced sleep disturbances, insomnia, or night terrors?
What's Really Driving These Symptoms?
PANS and PANDAS can be triggered by a variety of infections and environmental stressors.
While symptoms often appear suddenly, the underlying contributors may have been building beneath the surface for months or even years.
Other Infections
Many children with PANS have a history of chronic or recurrent infections. Common triggers may include viruses (such as Epstein-Barr Virus, influenza, COVID-19, or other viral illnesses), Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections.
Mold and Environmental Toxins
Exposure to mold, water-damaged buildings, glyphosate, heavy metals, and other environmental toxins can place significant stress on the immune system and may contribute to neuroinflammation
Histamine & Mast Cell Activation
In some children, mast cell activation and histamine intolerance may develop alongside chronic infections, mold exposure, gut dysfunction, or ongoing inflammation. When present, they can contribute to anxiety, irritability, sleep disturbances, sensory challenges, and OCD-like symptoms.
Histamine & Mast Cell Activation
In some children, mast cell activation and histamine intolerance may develop alongside chronic infections, mold exposure, gut dysfunction, or ongoing inflammation. When present, they can contribute to anxiety, irritability, sleep disturbances, sensory challenges, and OCD-like symptoms.
Streptococcal Infections
The classic trigger for PANDAS. In some children, a strep infection can trigger an abnormal immune response that affects the brain and nervous system.
Gut Health Imbalances
The gut and immune system are closely connected. Dysbiosis, chronic constipation, food sensitivities, yeast overgrowth, Clostridia overgrowth, and intestinal inflammation can contribute to ongoing immune activation and make symptoms more difficult to resolve.
Every child is different. Our goal is to identify the unique combination of triggers and contributing factors affecting your child so that we can create a personalized path toward your child’s healing.
We will make sense of what’s happening
If you're here, there's a good chance you've already tried a lot. Many families come to us after being told it's "just anxiety," that the behaviors are psychological, or after cycling through therapies and treatments that provide only temporary relief.
PANS and PANDAS are neuroimmune conditions. The symptoms you're seeing—whether it's anxiety, OCD, tics, rage, sensory challenges, sleep issues, or regression—are often signs of an immune system under stress. BRAIN ON FIRE.
We believe your child's body is trying to communicate something important.
By looking for underlying triggers, and supporting the body's ability to heal, we can begin to make sense of the symptoms, connect the dots, and create a clearer path forward.
Sometimes the trigger for your child’s challenges is obvious, sometimes life has felt like such a whirlwind once things and it’s hard to pinpoint when. I will help you draw the connection(s) — we’ll create your timeline together, and a roadmap for recovery.
You’re in the right spot if you’ve been experiencing these big feelings…
We’ve tried everything but nothing seems to be getting to the root of what’s going on.
I hate seeing how other kids reject my child. He doesn't get invited to birthday parties. It’s heartbreaking.
No one can explain why my child is acting like this
No doctor believes us when we describe our child's symptoms and it’s making me feel crazy!
My child isn't the same kid anymore and I just want them back
Getting dressed, brushing teeth or leaving the house feels like a battle every single day.
We use gold standard testing that helps shine a spotlight on the root cause.
Functional testing can be done from the comfort of your home.
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The GI-MAP is an advanced at-home stool test that helps us move beyond guesswork by uncovering what’s happening inside your child’s gut. It provides valuable insight into the gut microbiome, digestive function, immune health, inflammation, intestinal permeability, and potential bacterial, fungal or parasitic imbalances that may be contributing to symptoms. This test is one of the foundational tools I use to help identify the root causes behind eczema, digestive symptoms, food sensitivities, recurrent infections, and other gut and immune concerns
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provides us with a deeper look at how your child's body is functioning on a cellular level. It provides valuable insight into gut bacteria and yeast overgrowth, mitochondrial function, nutrient deficiencies, detoxification pathways, neurotransmitter balance, oxalate metabolism, and markers of oxidative stress.
Pediatric Care Package
DURATION: 5 MONTHS
COST: : $2700, payment plans available
A comprehensive 5-month program designed to uncover the root causes of chronic symptoms and create a personalized roadmap toward lasting health.
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Comprehensive 90-minute Initial Consultation
𖡼 Thorough review of your child’s health history, symptom timeline, lifestyle, nutrition, environmental exposures, and previous testing
𖡼 GI-MAP Comprehensive Stool Test (included) - (include the why this test)
𖡼 Organic Acids Test (OAT) Test (included) - (include the why this test)
𖡼 Two comprehensive (45 minute) lab test review appointments with personalized recommendations and protocol refinement
𖡼 Monthly 50-minute personalized care sessions to review progress, answer questions, and thoughtfully refine your child’s care plan.
𖡼 Unlimited secure messaging to support you in-between sessions via Practice Better (Monday–Friday)
𖡼 Unlimited food journal review and personalized feedback
𖡼 Access to your secure, HIPAA-compliant Practice Better Client Portal
𖡼 Practitioner pricing on additional functional laboratory testing, when clinically appropriate
𖡼 Exclusive savings on professional-grade supplements
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Please Note: The Labcorp Functional Blood Chemistry Panel, ODX Functional Blood Chemistry Analysis, and GI-MAP are included in the program. Additional specialty laboratory testing, supplements, and specialty products are purchased separately and are not included in the program fee.
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