Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with group A streptococci
Background
- Also known as "PANDAS"
- Controversial hypothesis that a subset of children with rapid onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or tic disorders caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) infections[1]
- Hypothesis is that antibodies against the cell wall of the streptococcal bacteria cross-react with neuronal brain tissue in the basal ganglia to cause the tics and OCD that characterize PANDAS
Clinical Features
- Diagnostic criteria for PANDAS include[2]:
- OCD and/or tic disorder
- Pediatric onset (between three years and onset of puberty)
- Abrupt onset and episodic course of symptoms
- Temporal relation between GAS infection and onset and/or exacerbation
- GAS infection is confirmed by:
- Positive throat or skin culture or rapid antigen detection test for GAS at the beginning of a PANDAS exacerbation, or
- Clinically significant rise in antistreptococcal antibody between the onset of symptoms and four to six weeks later
- GAS infection is confirmed by:
- Neurologic abnormalities, such as motoric hyperactivity, choreiform movements, or tics during exacerbations
Differential Diagnosis
- Tic disorder or OCD
- Sydenham chorea (due to Acute Rheumatic Fever)
Evaluation
- Evaluate for alternative etiologies of symptoms or precipitants of decompensation
Management
- Antistreptococcal therapy, (even if the episode of GAS was already treated given the failure rates for penicillin and amoxicillin therapy)
- Azithromycin 12 mg/kg orally in one dose for five days (maximum dose 500 mg)
- Treatment with azithromycin or clindamycin is advocated by some experts because of the possibility that GAS is intracellular[3]
- Standard neuropsychiatric treatment for OCD and/or tic disorders
Disposition
See Also
- Streptococcal pharyngitis
- Acute rheumatic fever
- Scarlet fever
- Toxic shock syndrome
- Post-streptococcal glomerular nephritis
External Links
References
- ↑ Moretti G, Pasquini M, Mandarelli G, Tarsitani L, Biondi M (2008). "What every psychiatrist should know about PANDAS: a review". Clin Pract Epidemol Ment Health. 4 (1): 13.
- ↑ Swedo SE, Leonard HL, Garvey M, et al. Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections: clinical description of the first 50 cases. Am J Psychiatry. 1998;155(2):264-71.
- ↑ Osterlund A, Engstrand L. An intracellular sanctuary for Streptococcus pyogenes in human tonsillar epithelium--studies of asymptomatic carriers and in vitro cultured biopsies. Acta Otolaryngol. 1997;117(6):883-8.