Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 26, 2026

Pan-lyssavirus Real Time RT-PCR for Rabies Diagnosis
06:25

Pan-lyssavirus Real Time RT-PCR for Rabies Diagnosis

Published on: July 10, 2019

22.4K

PANDAS/PANS in childhood: Controversies and evidence

Colin Wilbur1,2, Ari Bitnun3,4, Sefi Kronenberg5,6

  • 1Division of Neurology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Paediatrics & Child Health
|April 19, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS) and paediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) require further research. This review addresses diagnostic criteria, treatments, and etiology for these complex pediatric conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Neuroimmunology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) and Paediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) are controversial diagnoses.
  • The exact role of streptococcal infections and the underlying autoimmune mechanisms remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current definitions and diagnostic criteria for PANDAS/PANS.
  • To discuss the evidence for various therapeutic interventions.
  • To propose a clinical management approach for affected children.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of published studies on PANDAS/PANS.
  • Analysis of evidence for symptomatic and disease-modifying therapies.
  • Synthesis of information to formulate a clinical approach.

Main Results:

  • Current definitions and diagnostic criteria for PANDAS/PANS are evolving.
  • Evidence for treatments including antibiotics, immunotherapy, and psychoactive drugs is varied and often inconclusive.
  • A definitive autoimmune hypothesis for PANDAS lacks conclusive proof.

Conclusions:

  • Further research is imperative to clarify the etiology and natural history of PANDAS/PANS.
  • A standardized, evidence-based approach to diagnosis and treatment is needed.
  • Clinical vigilance and a structured approach are essential for managing children presenting with PANS/PANDAS symptoms.

Keywords:
AutoimmuneOCDPaediatricPsychiatricTics

More Related Videos

Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm06:35

Examining Recall Memory in Infancy and Early Childhood Using the Elicited Imitation Paradigm

Published on: April 28, 2016

35.1K
Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood08:20

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood

Published on: October 2, 2019

12.5K

Related Concept Videos

The Evidence for Evolution02:55

The Evidence for Evolution

Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.
47.7K
Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Childhood01:28

Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Childhood

Erik Erikson, a stage theorist, adapted Freud's theory to emphasize social factors in personality development throughout life, a concept known as psychosocial development. Unlike Freud, who focused on early childhood, Erikson believed that personality evolves across eight life stages, each marked by a specific challenge or "crisis." Successful resolution of each stage fosters competence, while failure may lead to feelings of inadequacy.
The first four of Erikson's eight...
1.0K
Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development from Childhood into Adulthood01:25

Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development from Childhood into Adulthood

Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development emphasizes the role of thinking in a child's learning process, suggesting that children are naturally curious about their environment. His approach to development is discontinuous, proposing that cognitive abilities progress through distinct stages, each with unique characteristics. Central to Piaget's theory is schemata—mental structures that allow individuals to understand and interpret the world.
Schemata: Building Blocks of Knowledge
1.6K
Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience,...
22.2K
Attitudes01:54

Attitudes

Attitude is our evaluation of a person, an idea, or an object. We have attitudes for many things ranging from products that we might pick up in the supermarket to people around the world to political policies. Typically, attitudes are favorable or unfavorable: positive or negative (Eagly & Chaiken, 1993). And, they have three components: an affective component (feelings), a behavioral component (the effect of the attitude on behavior), and a cognitive component (belief and knowledge;...
32.7K
The Stanford Prison Experiment03:20

The Stanford Prison Experiment

The famous and controversial Stanford Prison Experiment, conducted by social psychologist Philip Zimbardo and his colleagues at Stanford University, demonstrated the power of social roles, social norms, and scripts.
24.6K