A MYSTERY? I DON’T THINK SO…

Finally the word on P,A,N.D.A S. reaches households throughout the US with this very important segment on The Doctors. Thank you to Beth Alison Maloney for continuing her efforts to stop this serious childhood illness. Time is of the essence as new cases are appearing everyday. Diagnosis is crucial and so is immediate treatment.Here is an overview of The Doctors to watch and share with your pediatrician so children will not have to suffer needlessly. Thank you:}

There is no stopping this breathtaking news that strep can affect the heart, joints and BRAIN! Thank you to Prof. Daphna Joel and her team of researchers at Tel Aviv University’s Department of Psychology for taking another step forward.

Please note that it is stressed that strep must be treated with antibiotic therapy to stop the process of PANDAS and other strep related illnesses.

Marci

Many of us are looking forward to studies on antibiotic therapy as well…THANK YOU FOR THIS POST.

12GI1ZP6.aspx Bella’s Story

I was heartbroken to hear of this child’s struggles with Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with streptococcus. I know how distraught her parents were and know how fortunate they were to find answers for their daughter. PANDAS behaves much like rheumatic fever.  The body creates an autoimmune response to the strep bacteria where it begins its assault. But unlike rheumatic fever it does not attack the heart. Instead,  it places its attack on the Basil Ganglia of the Brain.

PANDAS MUST BE STOPPED. More info on PANDAS at http://www.pandasfoundation.org

This is where Jamie began his road to recovery. Dr Robert Reichler spoke to Dr Susan Swedo in 2001 during the PANDAS plasmapheresis study at NIMH. Fortunately, by the time we flew back to NIMH Jamie’s PANDAS went into remission with antibiotic therapy. Thank you to all the families and physicians who helped make this happen. It’s about time!

treatment.html (insight into antibiotic treatment for PANDAS from PANDAS Network)

Go to http://www.pandasfoundation.org for more info

http://ocfoundation.org/uploadedFiles/MainContent/Find_Help/PANDAS%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf?n=4866

Back to the basics. PANDAS is caused by a streptococcal infection that triggers an immune system reaction which attacks the basil ganglia of the brain  And as we have found, PANDAS can be stopped by aggressive and longterm antibiotic therapy. Our son Jamie had elevated ASO (Anti-streptolycin O) titers as well almost every one of the symptoms listed on this PANDAS Fact Sheet.  Our son, Jamie, was treated with antibiotics and thankfully, our son Jamie’s disorder went into remission. This has been documented by records obtained from the National Institute of Mental Health. All we ask is that physicians across the globe give recognition to this new childhood disorder and give children the much needed prescription for antibiotics, for both immediate and long term use. This is what physicians did for our son, Jamie. They returned our healthy, happy, athletic, beautiful child to us unscathed.

I think of all the children who continue to suffer needlessly. Immediate recognition and treatment of PANDAS  is key. Let us continue to spread the word. I have found some amazing bloggers who have there own personal stories to tell.  Their pain, their sadness is gutwrenching.

We must not let our children and families suffer alone. The Pandas Foundation has gathered a list of admirable physicians who are coming to the aid of these very ill children. The numbers keep growing, our fight to bring these children back has begun.

Go to http://www.pandasfoundation.org  for more info.

Fact sheet  2010 International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) go to http://www.ocfoundation.org for more info.

Marci S Lichtenwalter, Director of MoonDance to the Cure & Northwest Regional Coordinator “got strep” campaign Pandas Foundation