One day your child seems fine—playful, engaged, emotionally stable—and the next, they’re gripped by anxiety, compulsive behaviors, or uncontrollable emotional outbursts. Parents often describe it the same way: “It was like someone flipped a switch.”
These are the stories we hear every week at Restorative Medicine Center. Children who suddenly develop tics, OCD-like rituals, panic attacks, school refusal, or sensory issues that seemingly come out of nowhere. These symptoms are not simply “behavioral problems,” and they’re not your fault as a parent.
In many cases, what you’re seeing is the manifestation of a neuroimmune disorder known as PANDAS—Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections. And unfortunately, it’s often missed, misunderstood, or misdiagnosed as ADHD, anxiety, or a behavioral phase.
We understand how confusing and frightening this experience can be. That’s why at Restorative Medicine Center, we take every parent’s concerns seriously. We specialize in uncovering the root causes of these sudden neuropsychiatric shifts—often finding immune system triggers like PANDAS that conventional approaches overlook.
With the right evaluation, early intervention, and a whole-child treatment plan, recovery is possible—and your child can come back to themselves again.
What Is PANDAS?
PANDAS stands for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections. It is a subset of neuroimmune conditions where a seemingly ordinary strep infection triggers an autoimmune response that mistakenly targets the brain—specifically, areas involved in mood, movement, and behavior regulation.
In a healthy immune response, the body creates antibodies to fight off invading pathogens like Streptococcus pyogenes. But in children with PANDAS, the immune system becomes confused—due to a phenomenon called molecular mimicry—and begins attacking the basal ganglia, a region of the brain involved in motor control, emotion regulation, and executive function.
PANDAS vs. PANS: The Broader Picture
While PANDAS is specifically triggered by Group A strep, there is a broader category known as PANS—Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome. PANS includes similar sudden-onset symptoms, but the triggers can vary and may include:
- Viral infections (like Epstein-Barr virus or influenza)
- Tick-borne illnesses (such as Lyme disease, Bartonella, Babesia)
- Environmental toxins (like mold mycotoxins or heavy metals)
- Metabolic stress or inflammatory overload
How PANDAS Affects the Brain
To truly understand PANDAS, we have to move beyond outdated models of "behavioral disorders" and instead look at what’s happening inside the brain—at the intersection of immunity and neurology.
At the root of PANDAS is a phenomenon known as molecular mimicry. This occurs when the immune system mistakes the body’s own tissues for a pathogen. In the case of PANDAS, after a child’s immune system mounts a defense against Group A streptococcus (the bacteria responsible for strep throat), the resulting antibodies cross-react with brain tissue, particularly the basal ganglia.
The basal ganglia is a critical area of the brain involved in:
- Movement coordination
- Emotional regulation
- Motivation and reward processing
- Impulse control
- Executive function (organization, planning, attention)
Why Early Treatment Matters
When left unrecognized or untreated, PANDAS can progress into more chronic immune dysfunction, setting the stage for long-term neurological issues, immune dysregulation, or even autoimmune disease. Repeated strep exposures or co-triggers (like mold or Lyme) can worsen the neuroinflammatory state, making recovery harder and more prolonged.
At Restorative Medicine Center, we don’t wait for a “perfect” case definition. If a child presents with sudden-onset neuropsychiatric symptoms following an illness, we start evaluating the immune-brain interface right away.
By calming neuroinflammation, identifying ongoing triggers, and supporting the body’s recovery pathways, we can prevent further immune damage and help children reclaim their cognitive, emotional, and neurological balance.
Core Symptoms of PANDAS in Children
Psychiatric and Emotional Symptoms
Many children with PANDAS suddenly exhibit behaviors that seem alarming or out of character, often overnight or within days.
- Obsessive-compulsive behaviors: sudden rituals, repetitive questions, hand-washing, or irrational fears
- Intrusive thoughts: disturbing or violent images or ideas the child finds upsetting and cannot control
- Separation anxiety: refusal to be away from a parent, even in familiar settings
- Mood swings: rapid emotional cycling that doesn’t match the situation
- Aggression or rage episodes: intense outbursts that seem to come from nowhere
- Regression: acting much younger than their age emotionally
- Phobias: new, intense fears—germs, choking, death, contamination
- Depression or withdrawal: sudden sadness, apathy, or loss of joy in favorite activities
Neurological Symptoms
Because the basal ganglia and related brain regions are affected, PANDAS often presents with a wide range of neurological signs.
- Motor and vocal tics: blinking, throat clearing, shoulder shrugging, repeating sounds or words
- Tremors or choreiform movements: involuntary, jerky movements often confused with Tourette’s
- Sensory sensitivities: intolerance to noise, bright lights, clothing textures, or touch
- Cognitive issues: foggy thinking, forgetfulness, loss of focus
- Short-term memory problems: forgetting instructions, names, or schoolwork
- Handwriting deterioration: previously neat handwriting suddenly becomes illegible
- Speech changes: slurred words, stuttering, or verbal regression
Behavioral and Developmental Changes
PANDAS can disrupt a child’s development, social engagement, and behavior patterns—often causing concern in school and family environments.
- School refusal: panic or anxiety around attending class, even if they previously enjoyed school
- Academic regression: sudden drop in performance or loss of previously mastered skills
- Food restriction: fears of choking, vomiting, or contamination that lead to disordered eating
- Repetitive behaviors: compulsive counting, touching, or checking routines
- Oppositional behaviors: explosive defiance or refusal to comply with basic tasks
Physical and Somatic Symptoms
Because the immune and nervous systems are intimately linked, many children with PANDAS also show unexplained physical symptoms.
- Sleep disturbances: insomnia, frequent waking, or fear of sleeping alone
- Bedwetting or urinary frequency: frequent urination with no clear cause, even in potty-trained kids
- Fatigue: despite sleeping, the child seems constantly tired or unable to participate in normal activities
- Joint pain or stiffness: migrating aches with no injury
- Gastrointestinal complaints: nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea without a known infection
What Makes a Functional Medicine Approach Different
Comprehensive Timeline: Listening to the Full Story
Before any labs are drawn or protocols are started, we take a deep dive into your child’s health history. We look at:
- Recent or recurring infections (especially strep, EBV, or viral triggers)
- History of antibiotic use, which may alter the gut-immune axis
- Environmental exposures to mold, pesticides, or heavy metals
- Vaccination history and immune responses
- Family history of autoimmunity, neuropsychiatric conditions, or inflammatory illness
Advanced Lab Testing: Going Beyond “Normal” Ranges
Our diagnostic process includes advanced functional testing that conventional labs may not offer:
- ASO and Anti-DNase B titers to identify immune response to strep
- Immunoglobulin panels to assess immune system balance and deficiency
- Inflammatory markers like TGF-β1, MMP-9, VEGF, C4a—associated with chronic immune activation
- Lyme and co-infection panels (e.g., Bartonella, Babesia, Mycoplasma)
- Mycotoxin testing for mold colonization or exposure
- GI and microbiome analysis to evaluate gut-immune health
The Root Cause Triad: The Three Core Drivers We Assess
In nearly every PANDAS or PANS case, we find three critical forces at play—what we call the Root Cause Triad™:
- Stealth Infections
These include strep, Lyme disease, Bartonella, Mycoplasma, viruses, and even mold colonization. They disrupt immune tolerance and provoke persistent neuroinflammation. - Toxins
Mold mycotoxins, heavy metals, and environmental chemicals impair detoxification, overwhelm the immune system, and often contribute to chronic symptom cycling. Genetic factors like MTHFR or HLA-DR can impair detox ability. - Nervous System Dysregulation
Chronic immune stress activates the limbic system, leading to anxiety, panic, OCD, and emotional dysregulation. A “stuck” brain can keep symptoms going even after infection is cleared.
Multi-Layered, Individualized Treatment Plans
No two children are the same, and neither are their treatment plans. Our care typically includes:
- Targeted antimicrobials—herbal or pharmaceutical (when appropriate)
- Anti-inflammatory support to calm immune activation
- Immune modulation using nutrition, low-dose therapies, or immunoglobulin support
- Nervous system regulation through limbic retraining, red light therapy, breathwork, and trauma-informed care
It’s Not Rare—It’s Just Rarely Recognized
PANDAS isn’t a fringe diagnosis—it’s a misunderstood and underdiagnosed neuroimmune condition that affects far more children than most providers realize. When a child’s emotional, behavioral, or physical health takes a sharp and sudden turn, the most important thing you can do as a parent is trust your instincts.
If your child has changed—if they’re anxious, obsessive, withdrawn, volatile, or showing strange new neurological symptoms—we want you to know: you are not alone, and your child is not broken.
At Restorative Medicine Center, we believe these symptoms are a message, not a life sentence. We take the time to listen, investigate, and uncover the immune, infectious, and environmental triggers that may be hijacking your child’s health. Our goal isn’t to suppress symptoms—it’s to restore balance at the source so healing can happen.
Early intervention makes a profound difference. And even in more complex or chronic cases, recovery is possible with the right roadmap.
Contact Information
📍 Restorative Medicine Center
705 Barclay Cir #115
Rochester Hills, MI 48307
📞 Phone: 248.289.6349
📠 Fax: 248.289.6923
🕘 Office Hours: Mon–Thurs: 9am–5pm | Fri: Closed
🌐 Website: www.restorativemedcenter.com