“My Brain Feels Better”

Parents Lisa and Craig recount their son Ryan’s sudden, devastating onset of PANS—extreme OCD, emotional contamination, refusal to leave home, or even the couch. Today we’re talking about PANS and PANDAS. These are conditions in which a child’s immune response to an infection—sometimes strep—can trigger sudden changes in behavior or psychiatric symptoms like anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, or tics. It’s uncommon, but when it happens the changes can be dramatic, which is why awareness among parents and pediatricians is important. Immunologist Dr. Anthony Infante describes using targeted autoimmune testing (Cunningham panel) and IVIG antibody infusions, which gradually restored Ryan’s sleep, hygiene, and social life and ultimately returned him to a healthy, functioning young adult.