Nine-year-old Ava Holden was a cheerful, calm student who loved school. There was nothing unusual when she went to bed that night, but when she woke up the next morning, she refused to go to school.
HE WAS HAVING ANGER EXPLOSIONS AND ANXIETY ATTACKS
The child, who almost had a panic attack, began to have sudden outbursts of anger and anxiety attacks in the following days. Ava, who had strange phobias, was afraid of germs and vomiting and refused to sleep alone.
HE STARTED TO BITE AND KICK THOSE AROUND ME
The problems did not end there. Due to his sudden outbursts of anger, he started biting, kicking and screaming at those around him. When her parents saw the little girl trying to open the door of a moving vehicle, they decided to consult a specialist.
According to the news in the British Mirror newspaper, parents 38-year-old Claire and 39-year-old Simon made a doctor’s appointment for their daughters, but their turn on the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) waiting list never came.
THE SCHOOL NURSE DISCOVERED WHAT IT IS: PANDAS SYNDROME
Help came from the school nurse to the helpless family, who had been trying to understand their daughter’s condition for 18 months. in Ava ‘PANDAS Syndrome’ The nurse said that it might be possible and suggested that the little girl be examined neurologically, and the situation turned out to be exactly as she predicted.
Doctors emphasized that Ava’s condition was caused by a streptococcal infection, and that the only symptom was a change in behavior because the little girl was asymptomatic.
CHILDREN FIGHTING INFECTION ARE THOUGHT TO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS
Claire, a mother of two, explained that the process they were going through was terrible for her 9-year-old daughter as well as the whole family, and said: “We desperately sought help for months. One day, when I asked her how she was feeling, she said, ‘It’s like my brain is on fire, I’m sad all the time.’ It was absolutely heartbreaking to hear this. PANDAS, “It occurs in patients with sudden extreme anxiety, and some may develop tics. While some cannot walk, some have abnormal speech. This is due to inflammation of their brains due to infection.” he said and added;
“The most painful part of the disease is that most children are thought to have mental health problems and behavioral disorders due to misdiagnosis. Children are directed to special education when they should receive infection treatment.”
HE WAS TREATED WITH ANTIBIOTICS
Once the diagnosis was finally confirmed, Ava was treated with antibiotics. She is now 11 years old and has started to enjoy life again. The family is trying to raise awareness about the disease, which most people have not even heard of.
WHAT IS PANDAS SYNDROME?
Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) is a type of neurological disorder seen in children. PANDAS is characterized by the sudden and rapid onset of symptoms of childhood obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and/or tic disorder. Streptococcal infections are believed to be a triggering factor in the emergence of these symptoms.
PANDAS is associated with an autoimmune reaction that occurs as a result of the immune system’s response to streptococcal bacteria. This reaction can lead to inflammation affecting certain areas of the brain, ultimately causing changes in the child’s behavior, emotional state, and cognitive functions.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF PANDAS?
Symptoms of PANDAS may include sudden and severe obsessive-compulsive symptoms (e.g., repetitive thoughts, obsessive behavior), tics (sudden and involuntary movements or vocalizations), anxiety, tantrums, insomnia, and other behavioral changes.
Treatment usually involves treating the streptococcal infection with antibiotics, and immunomodulatory medications may be used to relieve symptoms. In some cases, psychotherapy or other treatments may also be needed to control symptoms.
Tags: personality completely changed overnight months turned infection ..
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