PANS & PANDAS
Has your child transitioned from excelling academically and thriving in sports, being independent and fully functional, to experiencing the sudden onset of OCD, separation anxiety, behavioral regression, and verbal or motor tics, rendering them seemingly dysfunctional overnight? This shift might be attributed to toxic and/or infectious triggers, precipitating neuropsychiatric changes in your child.
Anti-Strep Antibody Testing
If you suspect that your child is experiencing PANS/PANDAS, we can conduct culture tests and antibody assessments to examine the presence of an immune response against streptococci.
A method to screen for streptococcal infections involves a throat or nasopharyngeal swab, followed by laboratory culturing for 24 or 48 hours to detect microbial presence.
Antistreptolysin antibodies are generated in reaction to the toxin enzyme streptolysin O, released by Group A Streptococcal bacteria. A blood test, commonly known as the ASO test, can indicate the presence of these antibodies.
Another relevant test is the Anti-DNase B strep antibody blood test. The body produces Anti-DNase B in response to Group A Streptococcal microbial infections. Elevated results may suggest an autoimmune condition induced by streptococci, potentially impacting the brain negatively.
If test results are negative, yet PANS symptoms persist, we can eliminate streptococcal involvement and explore alternative causes, such as infections from Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), mycoplasma, and others.
Cunningham Panel
The Cunningham Panel is a blood test designed to detect specific antibodies associated with neuroinflammation, contributing to the symptoms seen in PANS/PANDAS. This diagnostic tool aids in distinguishing whether conditions such as OCD, seizures, behavioral regression, tics, etc., are a result of an autoimmune response to infections affecting brain function rather than originating from a neuropsychiatric disorder.
Neural Zoomer Plus Test by Vibrant Wellness
The Neural Zoomer Plus Test by Vibrant Wellness evaluates reactivity to 48 neurological antigens linked to various neurological diseases. Analyzing well-studied autoantibodies aids in selecting treatment protocols by uncovering disease progression mechanisms.
This test contributes to reducing neurological conditions by enabling early risk detection and primary prevention for both patients and physicians. Additionally, optional genetic testing for the ApoE genotype is available, influencing the risk for specific neurological conditions.
Physicians opting for this test employ the most advanced tool to assess the presence and risk of neurological autoimmunity. It provides comprehensive scientific data on autoantibodies associated with neurological disorders, facilitating early risk detection and neurodegeneration prevention.
Numerous symptoms are linked to autoimmune involvement in the nervous system, encompassing cognitive decline, memory loss, ataxia, balance issues, neuropathy, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, encephalitis, muscle spasms, Huntington’s disease, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, Myasthenia Gravis, muscle stiffness/rigidity, optical decline, neuromyelitis optica, a history of concussion, autism, PANDAS/ANDAS/OCD, and demyelinating diseases.
Learn more about this test and order it here!
At The Redefining Wellness Center, we highly urge you to work with a practitioner when dealing with PANS/PANDAS or any medical condition. Click here to start your journey to work with us!