10/02/2025
Bringing awareness to PANS/PANDAS in children
As I’ve gone down this rabbit hole, I definitely don’t think that Gabe has it, yet, however, if I didn’t catch it when I did, there’s a good chance that it could’ve turned into something worse.
I’m a genuine believer that autoimmune disorders are a result of our environment, our lifestyle choices, and our genetics.
I believe there’s an answer for everything if you look hard enough and I refuse to accept that medication will fix anything in the long term.
I’m sharing this with you to let you know what I’m doing to prevent this from happening in my child as well as to make people aware of symptoms associated with it
These are the supplements he’s currently taking with an emphasis on making sure that he’s moving and sweating daily, pooping well every day and detoxing as best as possible
I asked ChatGPT to create a questionnaire to help people determine if this could be an issue for their child
Here’s what it says….
📋 PANS/PANDAS Symptom Questionnaire for Parents
Instructions: Check Yes or No for each question. This tool is not diagnostic, but it may help you recognize patterns that warrant evaluation by a specialist.
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1. Sudden Onset
• Did your child experience a sudden, dramatic change in behavior or emotions (seemingly overnight or within days)?
• Was there a clear trigger such as strep throat, another infection, or illness before the change?
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2. Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviors
• Has your child developed new obsessive thoughts (e.g., fears of germs, safety, harm, or contamination)?
• Has your child developed compulsions or rituals (e.g., repetitive handwashing, checking, touching, counting)?
• Do these behaviors interfere with daily life, school, or family activities?
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3. Anxiety & Mood Changes
• Does your child have sudden separation anxiety or clinginess to parents?
• Has your child developed new phobias or irrational fears?
• Do they have sudden panic attacks, severe anxiety, or social withdrawal?
• Has your child experienced mood swings, irritability, rage episodes, or aggression out of character for them?
• Have they shown signs of depression, hopelessness, or loss of interest in favorite activities?
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4. Neurological & Motor Symptoms
• Has your child developed tics (motor or vocal) suddenly?
• Do they have involuntary jerky or unusual movements?
• Have you noticed changes in coordination, handwriting, or fine motor skills?
• Has your child developed sudden sensory sensitivities (light, sound, textures, clothing)?
• Any new seizures or seizure-like episodes?
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5. Cognitive & Learning Changes
• Does your child have sudden problems with attention or focus (ADHD-like)?
• Have they experienced short-term memory issues or brain fog?
• Is there a noticeable decline in school performance or ability to complete tasks?
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6. Physical & Somatic Symptoms
• Has your child developed new sleep disturbances (insomnia, frequent waking, night terrors)?
• Any new urinary frequency or urgency without infection?
• Complaints of headaches, stomachaches, or body pains with no clear cause?
• Do they show sudden food restrictions, picky eating, or disordered eating patterns?
• Has your child had unexplained fatigue or low energy?
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7. Triggers & Course of Symptoms
• Do symptoms worsen after infections (strep, flu, mycoplasma, sinus, Lyme, etc.)?
• Do symptoms seem to wax and wane (come and go in flares)?
• Has your child had multiple episodes that suddenly appear and then partially improve?
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8. Family & Functional Impact
• Has your child’s behavior caused significant disruption at home, school, or socially?
• Has your child shown regression (acting younger, losing skills, baby talk, bedwetting, etc.)?
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✅ Scoring / Next Steps
• If you answered Yes to sudden onset of symptoms plus several from the OCD/Anxiety/Motor categories, it’s highly recommended to consult with a PANS/PANDAS specialist.
• Even if symptoms seem mild, early evaluation can prevent worsening over time.
