Strep Linked to Tourette's Symptoms

[KJS]

I received this as an e-mail today and thought I'd pass it along for those who might not have seen it. I have copied it in its entirety. ~Karen

 

 

There is growing evidence which has scientists suspecting that a

common childhood throat infection increases the risk of neurological

disorders such as Tourette's syndrome.

 

These findings are based on a study conducted at the Group Health

Center for Health Studies (CHS) in Seattle, is published in the July

5, 2005 edition of the journal Pediatrics, accessible online at

http://www.pediatrics.org.

 

The study focused on patients of Dr Davis's co- operative health

service diagnosed with a neurological disorder between 1992 and

1999. The study group consisted of 200 children aged four to 13 and

compared them with healthy children in the same age group.

 

Based on their medical histories, the results of the study suggests

that strep throat (streptococcal infection) doubles the risk for a

first diagnosis of Tourette's Disorder (TS/TD), obsessive

compulsive

behaviors (OCD) or tic disorder within three months after infection.

In addition, multiple infections appear to approximately triple the

risk for a first diagnosis of these disorders within 12 months.

 

This could be an indication that the same antibodies that attack

streptococcal infection may also damage brain cells.

 

 

Robert L. Davis, MD, MPH, senior researcher at CHS and the study's

corresponding:

 

 

"Strep infections share certain proteins that stimulate a set of

antibodies that cross-react with the brain. Many scientists believe

the body's response to infection, and to the antibiotics prescribed

to fight it, is to produce antibodies that attack not only the

infection but may also damage brain cells that control movement and

behavior."

 

"Although the presence of these antibodies is more frequent among

children with tics or TS, there's much we still don't know, for

example, why do millions of children get strep throat every year,

but only a tiny fraction develop these disorders? Genetics more than

likely play a major role in these conditions, but strep throat might

be one of the triggers,"

 

"There are likely a number of different causes for these conditions,

which often show up first in childhood or adolescence. Following a

number of different leads from past research, we've found more

tantalizing clues about possible connections between childhood

infections and certain disorders. However, our findings certainly

don't suggest that there is any immediate need for a change in

medical - or parental - practice."

 

"We still don't know if treatment with common antibiotics helps

prevent these neurological conditions that might follow strep

throat, or reduce their severity, or shorten their duration if they

do occur."

 

 

Strep infections are common, but Davis said it was too early to know

whether choosing one treatment option or none at all would help

stave off tics.

"This is scientific research at this point," Davis said. "One thing

we didn't study was whether treatment (with penicillin) modifies

these conditions."

 

 

Davis does not suggest that parents and physicians should be more

worried. Nor did he suggest parents do anything differently if their

child gets strep throat. "Right now, this is all still in the

research stage," said Davis. "We still don't know if treatment with

common antibiotics helps prevent these neurologic conditions that

might follow strep throat, or reduce their severity, or shorten

their duration if they do occur."

 

 

Other study authors include Loren K. Mell, MD of the Pritsker School

of Medicine, University of Chicago, and David Owens, MD, of the

University of Washington School of Medicine.

 

Group Health is a consumer-governed, nonprofit health care system

that coordinates care and coverage. Based in Seattle, Group Health

and Group Health Options, Inc. serve nearly 550,000 members in

Washington and Idaho. Group Health's Center for Health Studies

conducts research related to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of

major health problems.

 

 

The team from the Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle

aimed to assess the strength of the link between strep infections

and the incidence of neurological disorders.

 

 

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4647961.stm

 

http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050705/3/23fsd.html

 

http://www.smh.com.au/news/health/tourette-link-to-strep-

throat/2005/07/05/1120329448351.html

 

 

http://www.psycport.com/showArticle.cfm?

xmlFile=comtex_2005_07_05_pr_0000-3026-wa-group-health-

study.xml&provider=PR%20Newswire

 

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[Ronnas]

Thanks for posting this! It is nice to see some studies confirming what many of us as parents already know!