Nancy O'Hara MD, MPH, FAAP

Nancy O'Hara MD, MPH, FAAP Dr. Nancy O’Hara's functional medicine practice integrates the care of children with neurodevelopmental disorders and various chronic illnesses.

11/13/2025

Don’t skip the “final exam” after remediation.

Post-remediation testing confirms the job is finished—so the remediator, not you, fixes misses. Think of it like a medical follow-up after a procedure: you verify healing before moving on.

Quick takeaways:

- Costs less than the initial inspection (you’re testing remediated areas)

- Creates accountability and prevents “mystery” regressions months later

- Gives you a baseline to keep the home healthy over time

Save this for your mold-remediation checklist and check out more at drohara.com.

11/12/2025

New Episode — The step everyone skips after mold remediation 🧼

You can remove the visible mold and still be exposed for years if you don’t clear the fine particles and mycotoxins left in dust and on belongings.

What you’ll learn in this episode with Meredith Pleiter:

- Why fine-particle cleaning (HEPA, wet-wiping, textiles, contents) is part of remediation—not an optional extra

- Where typical workflows break down (inspector → remediator → …no one “owns” the final cleaning)

- How to choose vacuums/filters and set realistic routines so exposure doesn’t linger for up to 10 years

- Budget-friendly wins: self-draining dehumidifiers, vents/rugs/cars/school fixes, and when fogging actually fits

Practical, clear, doable.

Check out the new episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS on your favorite platform! Link in bio

11/11/2025

New house does NOT mean mold-free.

Supply-chain wood sat wet for months during COVID, then went into “brand-new” builds—between walls, behind drywall, inside cabinets. Old homes can be clean; new homes can be contaminated. It’s about materials, moisture, and build quality, not the year built.

If your child has unexplained symptoms, don’t rule mold out just because the house is new.

Tomorrow on the podcast: environmental health coach Meredith Pleiter shares the 8 non-negotiables families need to stop mold from keeping kids sick.

👉 Episode drops tomorrow—save this and tune in to Demystifying PANS/PANDAS!

11/10/2025

Understanding PANS Recovery

Dr. Hinchey and I discuss the complex recovery process for PANS patients, emphasizing that healing is a highly individualized marathon that can take months to years depending on factors like duration of illness, dysautonomia, and individual health challenges.

Watch the full episode on LymeBytes! podcast and visit my website, drohara.com for more info on PANS/PANDAS, BGE, and more!

11/07/2025

When mitochondria run too hot.

Not all mitochondrial findings are low; in a subset of kids with autism, Dr. Frye’s lab work shows overactivity—cells running at ~2× typical levels. Different patterns call for different strategies, which is why careful assessment matters before choosing supports.

We unpack what this means for families and clinicians—and how to think through next steps—in the latest episode of the Demystifying PANS/PANDAS Podcast.

11/06/2025

Start with the foundation.

Before specialized protocols, many kids benefit from shoring up basics: not just B9/folinic acid and B12, but zinc, magnesium, manganese, iron/ferritin—nutrients our standard diets often lack. A solid base supports mitochondria and makes individualized “mito cocktails” more thoughtful and tolerable.

Revisit yesterday’s episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS for a practical sequence: foundation first, then targeted mitochondrial supports matched to the child’s needs. And learn more at drohara.com.

11/05/2025

Could folate be the missing key?

“Normal” labs are built for “typical” biology—but many of our kids’ systems are running like a race car. In today’s episode, Dr. Richard Frye explains how children can have normal serum folate yet still not meet the brain’s needs, especially when methylation/transsulfuration demand is high.

What we cover:

Why “insufficiency” (not low on paper, but not enough for demand) can affect brain function.

How to recognize patterns: regression, movement changes, tics, anxiety, seizures.

Practical tools to discuss with your clinician: folinic acid (leucovorin), looking for folate receptor alpha antibodies, and building a strong nutritional foundation before layering in mitochondrial support.

If you’re navigating autism, PANS/PANDAS, or neuroimmune symptoms and wondering whether folate belongs in the conversation, this episode offers a clear framework.

Be sure to check out the new episode of the Demystifying PANS/PANDAS Podcast!

11/04/2025

Cerebral folate deficiency: why it can look like autism and PANS/PANDAS

In tomorrow’s episode with child neurologist Dr. Richard Frye, we discuss how brain-level folate issues can show up as sudden regression, new movement patterns (tics/dystonia), epilepsy, and other neurologic signs—overlapping with what we see in autism and PANS/PANDAS.
If you’ve noticed abrupt changes or complex movement symptoms, this lens may help you ask sharper questions and consider next steps with your care team.

New podcast episode drops tomorrow!

11/03/2025

The Hidden Health Consequences of Pandemic Isolation

We discuss how COVID-19 triggered reactivation of chronic viruses and disrupted immune system development, particularly children during prolonged lockdowns. We explore how excessive sanitization and isolation negatively impacted our natural immune responses and microbiome.

Check out LymeBytes! podcast for the full discussion! And as always check out Demystifying PANS/PANDAS wherever you get your podcasts!

Grateful for the opportunity to speak at A4M on tick-borne diseases and to be in the company of so many outstanding prac...
10/31/2025

Grateful for the opportunity to speak at A4M on tick-borne diseases and to be in the company of so many outstanding practitioners 💙

10/30/2025

Early in 2020, many hospitals missed opportunities to emphasize simple, supportive measures (like maintaining vitamin D sufficiency) or to further study promising adjuncts under careful protocols. In Episode 36, Dr. Mumper and I reflect on what we learned, where communication fell short, and how families can focus on clear fundamentals—sleep, nutrition, daylight, movement—while partnering with their clinicians on individualized care.

Check out my podcast Demystifying PANS/PANDAS to listen to the episode! And if you have questions, set up a mentoring consult at drohara.com

10/29/2025

Episode 36 is live — “Masks, Lockdowns, and the Hidden Cost to Children.”

In my conversation with Dr. Elizabeth Mumper, we zoom in on biochemistry that gets overlooked—including why some children have difficulty with sulfation pathways (processing phenols, dyes, and acetaminophen) and how thoughtful nutrition and targeted supports may help under clinical guidance.

Inside the episode:

- What “sulfation” means and why it matters for sensitive kids

- Practical ways families and clinicians approach support (e.g., magnesium sulfate topicals; sulfur-rich foods like onions, garlic, fennel)

- How to rebuild resilience after disruptive years: sleep, gut health, movement, sunlight, and steady nervous-system supports

This is a clear, physiology-first discussion for parents and clinicians navigating neuroimmune and neurobehavioral challenges.

🎧 Listen now—search “Demystifying PANS/PANDAS Podcast” or tap the link in my bio.

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Wilton, CT
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