Episode #174: Demystifying PANS/PANDAS with Dr. Nancy O'Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP

Why You Should Listen:  In this episode, you will learn how to demystify PANS and PANDAS. About My Guest: My guest for this episode is Dr. Nancy O'Hara.  Nancy O'Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP is a board-certified pediatrician.  Prior to her medical career, Dr. O'Hara taught children with autism.  She graduated with highest honors from Bryn Ma gdwr College and as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.  She earned a Master's degree in Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh.  After residency, chief residency, and general pediatric fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. O' Hara entered general private practice in 1993, and in 1999, began her consultative, integrative practice solely for children with special needs.  Since 1999, she has dedicated her functional medicine practice to the integrative and holistic care of children with chronic illness and neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD, PANDAS/PANS, OCD, Lyme, and ASD.  She is a leader in the training of clinicians, both in the United States and abroad.  Dr. O'Hara has written a comprehensive guidebook, "Demystifying PANS/PANDAS: A Functional Medicine Desktop Reference on Basal Ganglia Encephalitis", which is available on Amazon. Key Takeaways: How is PANS and PANDAS different from Autoimmune Encephalitis and Basal Ganglia Encephalitis? Does the onset have to be acute, or can there be a more smoldering presentation? How much of the condition is the microbe vs. the host response? Can PANS occur in adults? What is the role of mitochondrial dysfunction? What role do the tonsils play in these conditions? Which microbes may be triggers for PANS and PANDAS? Are antibiotics required for successful treatment? How often do Lyme and coinfections play a role? What are some natural interventions for addressing microbial overgrowths? Does mold illness contribute to PANS and PANDAS? How important is immune modulation reducing inflammation? How might helminth therapy be used to modulate the immune response? What are some tools for modulating the NLRP3 inflammasome? When might antioxidants be necessary? How much of the inflammatory burden overlaps with MCAS? Might FMT or stem cells play a role in recovery? Connect With My Guest: http://DrOHara.com Related Resources: Book: Demystifying PANS/PANDAS: A Functional Medicine Desktop Reference on Basal Ganglia Encephalitis Interview Date: October 10, 2022 Transcript: To review a transcript of this show, visit https://BetterHealthGuy.com/Episode174. Additional Information: To learn more, visit https://BetterHealthGuy.com. Disclaimer:  The content of this show is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness or medical condition. Nothing in today's discussion is meant to serve as medical advice or as information to facilitate self-treatment. As always, please discuss any potential health-related decisions with your own personal medical authority.