Curious----------Is Pandas caused by.............................?

[WorriedDADNMOM]

What is everyone's gut regarding Pandas-------Is it...................

1) Immune response related to strep infections.

2) Week or too short of abx that does not eradicate the strep thus causing the immune issues.

3) Or.....................??????

 

We have Infectious Disease doc appt. I am beginning to feel as if the amoxicillin has failed thus created "untreated strep" and sent my kiddos' immune systems into overload, per se. Any thoughts???? Still working way thru this mess. Thanks for the input.

[beeskneesmommy]

I think it is a genetic predisposition to autoimmune disorder. Then, I think that if the Strep is untreated, or treated with ineffective abx, or short runs of abx that are unable to knock out the Strep, the immune system starts to disassociate from the antibodies, causing the antibodies that behave inappropriately to move forward and increase in momentum on their own. I find it is easier to explain to people as in the same "mechanism" as Reumatic Fever, but instead of the antibodies attacking the heart, they go after the basal ganglia.

Edited November 1, 2011 by Beeskneesmommy

[Burnell]

you need to read up on scarlet fever, Sydenham's chorea, for background on PANDAS. All 3 are strep caused. Tonsils seem to be involved too. These auutoimmune diseases are not prevalent in poorer nations. No one knows why yet.

[beeskneesmommy]

Burnell - is it that they are not prevalent or that they go undiagnosed and untreated. This is an interesting statement and I would like to know more. Can you please site some articles for me? Thanks!

[Kayanne]

Burnell - is it that they are not prevalent or that they go undiagnosed and untreated. This is an interesting statement and I would like to know more. Can you please site some articles for me? Thanks!

I don't have a lot of time today to read through a search, but if you do a quick google of just heart valve surgeries, RF and such in India, you will find that RF is still really prevalent. Most of the YouTube videos of kids with SC, are from foreign countries too.

 

I can't speak for other autoimmune conditions, but the post strep ones are still common in countries that have populations that don't have easy access to antibiotics. RF and SC are rare in the US thanks to penicillin.