Blog

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.
TIC-TOC: PANDAS syndrome (pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infection) and psychiatric pathology in children and adolescents

Hilario Blasco-Fontecilla, Victor del Rio-Peña, Ping Wang, Chao Li, Marina Martin-Moratinos, Marcos Bella-Fernández, Trastorno por tics y trastorno obsesivo compulsivo: Trastornos neuropsiquiátricos pediátricos autoinmunes asociados a infecciones por estreptococos (PANDAS) y enfermedades psiquiátricas en niños y adolescentes, Psiquiatría Biológica, Volume 31, Supplement 1, 2024,100554, ISSN 1134-5934,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psiq.2024.100554.

  • Study Overview: Compared 801 children with and without ASLO positivity (Antistreptolysin O, a marker of past strep infection).
  • ASLO-positive kids are 7x more likely to have tics & OCD.
  • More ER visits and higher trauma/fracture rates.
  • No link to ADHD or academic performance.