ASPIRE Blog

I asked my son if I could share his story with ASPIRE; he could help people. For the first time in a long time, he smiled and said he felt special. Talk about silver linings and self-efficacy. Guardians of the Galaxy just came out in the theater, and Michael (age 10) wanted to go. We […]

By Dr. Lindsey Wells When Dylan becomes sick with an illness that makes him seem like a different person overnight, Sam doesn’t know what to feel or how to handle it. With the help of Dr. Sidney and Dogtor Ed, Sam and his family learn all about PANS/PANDAS and tools necessary to treat the illness. […]

While PANDAS is the result of a bacteria, and Long COVID, a virus, these pathogens share the capacity to cross the blood brain barrier, and attack the brain, affecting everything from mood, nerves and brain function. An article published in the British Medical Journal in 2005, points out a number of identifiable mechanisms of the mind-body connection. Most relevant being that infectious physical disease, affecting the brain, can give rise, directly, to psychological manifestations.

From Gabriella True, Board President Do not give up hope. Even on the darkest days, don’t give up. I don’t need to describe them to you because we all have been there or are there right now. Remember, there are possible triggers you have not identified. There are related health issues that may need to be […]

A the start of a school year parents of students with PANS PANDAS should schedule a time to meet with their child’s new team including teachers, therapists, guidance counselors, etc. If the student has a 504 Plan or an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), the Case Manager/ Coordinator and other relevant school personnel will attend the meeting. If it is appropriate, the student may attend the meeting.

The article by Cross et al. entitled “Case Report: PANDAS and Persistent Lyme disease with Neuropsychiatric Symptoms: Treatment, Resolution and Recovery” was published in Frontiers in Psychiatry. [1]

The 7-year-old girl developed multiple physical and neuropsychiatric symptoms six months after travelling to a tick endemic region of the U.S. During this period, she was treated for 3 separate strep infections and was subsequently diagnosed with Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections (PANDAS). PANDAS was considered based on classic symptoms and a history of strep, a positive ASO titer and a slightly elevated DNase B titer.

Virtual Voices for Mental Health program 2021 ASPIRE is again partnering with IOCDF on Virtual Voices for Mental Health program in which we call on our community to contact their legislators to ask for their support for specific mental health bills. These are the main issues: Issue #1: Support Telehealth Access Issue #2: Grow the […]

ASPIRE PANS PANDAS Current Resources for General Pediatricians. Share directly from this page or download it to email or print. Or contact us if you would like us to directly email your doctor or provider.

Overview – of PANS/PANDAS Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment. For more in-depth information, please see the www.aspire.care website directly. Share directly from this page or download it to email or print.

PANS PANDAS in the School Setting Toolkit  Information at your fingertips Click the button below to download the twenty-page toolkit that provides information on School Impacts and Supports for PANS PANDAS. Register with ASPIRE to download this information packet. PANS PANDAS School Impact Toolkit Learn more about PANS PANDAS in the school setting. PANS PANDAS […]

School Nurses play an integral role in the health of students. School nurses support students and student health every day of the year. Children with PANS/PANDAS have complex physical and mental health conditions that benefit from the support of a school nurse. Share directly from this page or download it to email or print.

ASPIRE’S Professional Advisory Board publishes PANS/PANDAS Guidelines for Children with Autism   Download and Share Today! No one should be denied a proper evaluation of PANS PANDAS. Members of the ASPIRE Professional Advisory Board have written PANS/PANDAS Guidelines for Children with Autism because too often, the medical conditions of children with autism are overlooked and […]