Posts by:
Gabriella True

Frequency and impact of paediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome/paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections diagnosis in Canada

Rachel Goren, Ari Bitnun, Asif Doja, Peter J Gill, Ronald M Laxer, Deborah M Levy, Tamara Pringsheim, Paul Sandor, Eluen Ann Yeh, Colin Wilbur, Sefi Kronenberg, Michelle Shouldice, Frequency and impact of paediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome/paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections diagnosis in Canada, Paediatrics & Child Health, 2024;, pxae092, https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/pxae092

In a Canadian study, a significant percentage of children diagnosed with PANDAS/PANS had OCD and/or tics, with the majority experiencing at least two neuropsychiatric symptoms, and healthcare utilization was high, including emergency visits and inpatient admissions

  • The Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program estimated that the prevalence of PANS/PANDAS was 1 in 60,115 (0.0017%) for children ages 3 through 18 years
  • The core diagnostic criteria of OCD, tics, or acute food refusal was absent in 12% of cases with 22% reporting sudden symptom onset
  • Infection was associated with onset or exacerbation in less than 1 out of every 3 cases
  • Most of the population exhibited 2+ neuropsychiatric symptoms with significant health care utilization amongst cases

 

The pattern of childhood infections during and after the COVID-19 pandemic
Nygaard U, Holm M, Rabie H, Rytter M. The pattern of childhood infections during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2024 Dec;8(12):910-920. doi: 10.1016/S2352-4642(24)00236-0. PMID: 39572124.
  • Initial Decline: Pediatric infections dropped during COVID-19 due to safety measures.
  • Post-Pandemic Surge: Infections rebounded as restrictions eased, with changes in severity, strains, and affected age groups.
  • Key Cause: Immunity debt from reduced exposure, not new variants or resistance.
  • Impact: Unusual symptoms emerged, offering new insights into disease spread and progression.