Episode Details

PANS and PANDAS are often overlooked causes of sudden behavioural, emotional, and neurological changes in children. For parents, the experience can be confusing, frightening, and difficult to navigate, especially when answers are hard to find.

In this episode, I am talking to functional medicine paediatrician Dr Nancy O'Hara about PANS and PANDAS, neuropsychiatric autoimmune conditions that can be triggered by infections, inflammation, mould exposure, and immune dysregulation. We discuss symptoms, root causes, treatment approaches, practical strategies for families, and how parents can advocate for their children 

Dr Nancy and I talk about:

• What PANS and PANDAS are and how they affect children
• Why sudden changes in behaviour, anxiety, OCD, tics, or mood should not be ignored
• How infections such as strep throat, COVID-19, Lyme disease, and other tick-borne illnesses may trigger symptoms
• The role of inflammation and immune dysregulation in children's mental health
• Why some children are more genetically susceptible to developing PANS and PANDAS
• Common symptoms parents should watch for, including restrictive eating, sleep disturbances, brain fog, and urinary changes
• How functional medicine approaches the root causes of PANS and PANDAS
• The connection between mould exposure and neuropsychiatric symptoms
• Natural strategies that may support recovery, including nutrition, sleep, movement, and targeted supplements
• Practical steps parents can take after a tick bite

Dr Nancy O'Hara is a board-certified paediatrician and functional medicine practitioner with a special focus on PANS, PANDAS, autism, tick-borne illnesses, mould-related illness, and immune dysfunction. She has spent decades helping children uncover and address the root causes of complex chronic conditions. Dr O'Hara is the author of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS and provides education and training for both practitioners and families.

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