PANS / PANDAS Naturopathic and Homeopathic Treatment and Telehealth Care for Children
Comprehensive, program-based pediatric care for children with PANS, PANDAS, and infection-triggered neuropsychiatric symptoms.
If your child experienced a sudden and drastic onset of OCD, tics, anxiety, mood changes, regression, or behavioral shifts after an infection, you may be looking for answers about PANS or PANDAS. Dr. Oskin provides all-inclusive PANS PANDAS naturopathic treatment and homeopathic care for children with PANS/PANDAS through structured telehealth programs designed specifically for chronic, complex cases.
What is PANS/PANDAS?
PANS (formerly PANDAS) is an acronym for Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome. Many publications illustrate a link between acute or febrile illnesses and the abrupt onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder, tics, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. When the symptoms cannot be better explained by known disorders such as Sydenham’s chorea or Tourette’s syndrome, a diagnosis of PANS may be made.
The neuropsychiatric symptoms of PANS/PANDAS may also include emotional lability, depression, irritability, oppositional behaviors, deterioration in school performance, sleep disturbances, bed wetting, or urinary frequency.
These conditions can feel overwhelming for parents since symptoms often appear rapidly, and flares can arise unexpectedly. Beneath the flares, there is often a chronic immune and neurologic pattern that requires careful, ongoing support.
If you suspect your child may have PANS or PANDAS, the next step is to schedule a consultation call.
Neuropsychiatric Symptoms that begin after an acute infection and may be associated with PANS/PANDAS:
If these symptoms are consistent with your child’s experience, discuss your concerns with Dr. Oskin.
PANS/PANDAS DIAGNOSIS AND EVALUATION
The PANS/PANDAS diagnosis is currently made based on clinical history, with support from laboratory blood tests. Some standard laboratory blood tests may be helpful if the child’s clinical history indicates the sudden and drastic onset of tics and/or OCD symptoms after strep throat or other infection.
If tics and OCD behaviors start during an acute case of sore throat, the child should receive a rapid strep test and throat culture to rule out an acute infection. When positive for an acute strep infection, the child should be treated with antibiotics by their primary care pediatrician. After the infection resolves, persistent symptoms may warrant testing immune markers to help determine whether a recent streptococcal infection is related to the timing of symptom onset.
Consult with Dr. Oskin if you think your child may suffer from PANDAS.
Conventional Treatment Options for PANS/PANDAS
PANS/PANDAS still has not been universally accepted by the conventional medical community. Current treatments for PANS include long-term prophylactic antibiotics, short-term corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and plasmaphoresis, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s), and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Alternative and naturopathic physicians treating PANS have proposed treating yeast and gastrointestinal infections, adding treatments such as curcumin, food allergy elimination, and additional immune-supportive treatments. The use of some of these medications is currently considered off-label and experimental as it is an area of ongoing research.
Homeopathic and PANS PANDAS Naturopathic Treatment
Dr. Oskin uses homeopathy as a safe and effective part of PANS PANDAS naturopathic treatment, without harmful side effects.
Homeopathy tends to help the most with tics, OCD behaviors, sensory processing problems, tantrums, violent behaviors, hyperactivity, ADD/ADHD, mood fluctuations, and separation anxiety.
Because homeopathy is a holistic therapy, when we treat children with PANS/PANDAS, we are also treating the whole body. If the child also suffers from other problems such as chronic recurrent ear infections, allergies, digestive problems, or other health concerns, these issues, too, may be helped by comprehensive homeopathic treatment.
Read this article by Dr. Oskin with a case series of PANS/PANDAS cases treated safely and effectively with homeopathy.
When our child has a flare, we don’t feel like we have to figure it out alone. Dr. Oskin responds quickly, supports us between appointments, and truly takes care of our family when we need help most. That peace of mind has meant everything.
Dr. Oskin’s Program-Based Model Designed for Chronic PANS/PANDAS
PANS and PANDAS are chronic conditions with acute flares layered on top, which means you might need guidance right away. If your child was improving last week but is now in a new flare, you can get answers from Dr. Oskin within one to two business days (often sooner), rather than waiting several weeks for your next appointment.
Dr. Oskin works through structured, all-inclusive programs rather than a fee-for-service visit model. This gives families consistent guidance, access during flares, and a treatment plan designed around your child’s progress over time to help them achieve their optimal state of health.
Programs typically include:
- A 1.5 to 3-hour comprehensive new client consultation
- An individualized treatment plan
- Follow-up appointments of approximately 30 to 45 minutes every 4 to 6 weeks
- Programs range from 6 to 12 months, depending on the nature and duration of the condition. Longer-standing chronic conditions are most often 12-month programs.
- Private messaging through the patient portal and direct text communication
- Access and support between appointments – Program clients have access to private messaging through the patient portal and direct text communication during standard business hours.
Enrollment is capped to maintain space in the schedule and allow flexibility for families who need support during flares, so you and your family receive attentive, responsive care. We feel this system works best for families since many parents comment on how much they appreciate the quick response time and the ability to receive help when they need it most.
Dr. Oskin accepts chronic cases only. He does not treat one-time acute illnesses such as a cold, flu, or acute back pain. Because the nature of these cases requires a gradual healing process, the program model allows continuity, flexibility, and focused care.
PANS/PANDAS Telehealth Care for Families Nationwide*
Dr. Oskin provides telehealth care for patients with PANS/PANDAS. For clients located in Arizona, laboratory testing and certain prescription medications may be incorporated when appropriate. For telehealth clients outside of Arizona, programs focus solely on naturopathic and homeopathic medicine.
All clients are required to maintain a local physician for acute care needs, physical exams, laboratory testing, imaging, diagnostic workup, well checkups, and medication management prescribed by other providers.
*Due to state regulations, telehealth services are not available to patients located in Florida, South Carolina, or Tennessee.
Book Your PANS/PANDAS Free Consultation with Dr. Oskin
If your child has PANS or PANDAS, or if you suspect abrupt-onset symptoms following an infection, the next step is to schedule a consultation call.
During this call, you can discuss your child’s history, ask questions, and determine whether this program may be the right fit for your family.
If you are looking for PANS PANDAS naturopathic treatment, the next step is to schedule a free consultation call with Dr. Oskin.
PANS or PANDAS Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between PANS and PANDAS?
PANDAS was originally used to describe children who experienced abrupt onset OCD and tics following a streptococcal infection. The diagnosis has since expanded to PANS, which includes a broader range of infectious and non-infectious triggers when symptoms begin suddenly and dramatically.
What are common PANS/PANDAS symptoms in children?
Common symptoms include sudden onset OCD, motor or vocal tics, anxiety, mood fluctuations, behavioral regression, separation anxiety, sleep disturbances, urinary frequency, irritability, and changes in school performance. Symptoms often begin after an infection and may occur in flares.
How is PANS/PANDAS diagnosed?
PANS/PANDAS is diagnosed based on clinical history with the support of laboratory testing. Blood tests may help identify recent infections or immune markers when symptoms begin abruptly following illnesses such as strep throat.
Can PANS/PANDAS be helped through telehealth?
Yes. Dr. Oskin provides structured telehealth programs for children with PANS/PANDAS. Arizona patients may incorporate laboratory testing and certain prescriptions when appropriate. Out-of-state telehealth programs focus on naturopathic and homeopathic treatment.
What does Dr. Oskin’s PANS/PANDAS treatment program include?
Dr. Oskin’s programs are designed to help children achieve meaningful health goals, relieving symptoms and restoring peace and stability within the home.
Programs include a comprehensive 1.5 to 3-hour initial consultation, individualized treatment planning, follow-up appointments every 4 to 6 weeks, and access between visits during flares. Programs typically range from 6 to 12 months, depending on the chronic nature of the condition.
REFERENCES:
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Garvey MA, Snider LA, Leitman SF, Werden R, Swedo SE. Treatment of Sydenham’s chorea with intravenous immunoglobulin, plasma exchange, or prednisone. J Child Neurol. 2005;20(5):424-42 http://pandasnetwork.org/
Kondo K, Kabasawa T. Improvement in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome after corticosteroid therapy. Ann Neurol 1978;4:387.
Matarazzo EB. Tourette’s syndrome treated with ACTH and prednisone: Report of two cases. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 1992;2:215-26. Medscape.org
Pavone P, Bianchini R, Parano E, et al. Anti-brain antibodies in PANDAS versus uncomplicated streptococcal infection. Pediatr Neurol. 2004;30(2):107-110.
Perlmutter SJ, Leitman SF, Garvey MA, et al. Therapeutic plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobulin for obsessive-compulsive disorder and tic disorders in childhood. Lancet. 1999;354(9185):1153-1158.
Pigott TA, Seay SM: A review of the efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in obsessive-compulsive disorder. JClin Psychiatry 1999, 60:101-6. 82. Biondi M, Picardi A: Increased
Rondeau, Steve. PANDAS: An Immune-Mediated Mental Illness. NDNR. December 2010: Vol 6, Issue 12, pp. 1-4.
Snider LA, Lougee L, Slattery M, Grant P, Swedo SE. Antibiotics prophylaxis with azithromycin or penicillin for childhood-onset neuropsychiatric disorders. Biol Psychiatry. 2005;57(7):788-792.
Storch EA, Murphy TK, Geffken GR, et al. Cognitivebehavioral therapy for PANDAS-related obsessive compulsive disorder: findings from a preliminary waitlist controlled open trial. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2006;45(10):1171-1178.
Swedo SE, Leckman JF, Rose NR. From Research Subgroup to Clinical Syndrome: Modifying the PANDAS Criteria to Describe PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome). Pediatr Therapeut. 2012;2(2):113.
Swedo SE, Leonard HL, Garvey M, et al. Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections: clinical description of the first 50 cases. Am J Psychiatry. 1998;155(2):264-271
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