Quality of Life in Families With a Young Child With Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated With Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS)

Abstract

Date Presented 03/29/20 PANDAS is the sudden onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder or tics following streptococcal infection in a previously healthy child. We will discuss our qualitative phenomenology study of six families with a child with PANDAS whose symptoms developed prior to beginning school and consider how symptoms affected families. We will discuss implications of results for OT practitioners. Primary Author and Speaker: Barbara Demchick Additional Authors and Speakers: Julia Ehler, Alison Mills

Sensory processing in children with Paediatric Acute‐onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome

“…Sudden onset changes in sensory reactivity have been reported in children with PANS, with indications of over‐reactivity to touch, including hypersensitivity to items of clothing and textures of foods; smell; taste; sound; light; and visual stimuli (Demchick et al, 2020; Frankovich et al, 2015; Gromark et al, 2019). The most detailed study to date describing sensory reactivity differences experienced by children with PANS was conducted by Tona et al (2017).…”

“…Dyspraxia occurs when there is a disruption in sensory perception within the somatosensory (i.e., touch and proprioception) and/or vestibular senses, and impacts the child's ability to accurately initiate, plan, organise, and execute movement patterns (Bundy & Lane, 2020;Cermak & May-Benson, 2020). Sudden onset changes in sensory reactivity have been reported in children with PANS, with indications of over-reactivity to touch, including hypersensitivity to items of clothing and textures of foods; smell; taste; sound; light; and visual stimuli (Demchick et al, 2020;Frankovich et al, 2015;Gromark et al, 2019). The most detailed study to date describing sensory reactivity differences experienced by children with PANS was conducted by Tona et al (2017).…”