Neuroinflammation in Kids: What to Know About PANS/PANDAS | Episode 79 with Dr. Lauren LaRose

Dr. Lauren LaRose is a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist, and she takes a personal and clinical deep dive into PANS and PANDAS. We break down what Pediatric Acute Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and its strep-triggered subset, PANDAS, actually are—forms of autoimmune encephalitis where the immune system mistakenly attacks the basal ganglia, leading to sudden-onset OCD, anxiety, mood instability, behavioral regression, sleep disruption, and academic decline. Dr. LaRose explains molecular mimicry, genetic predisposition, plus environmental triggers, and why diagnosis is clinical, sometimes supported by lab testing for infections like strep, mycoplasma, Epstein-Barr, flu, COVID, and tick-borne illnesses.We also explore why tick-borne and vector-borne infections like Bartonella and Babesia may be more common than many providers realize, how neuroinflammation can masquerade as primary psychiatric disorders, and why treatment must go beyond antibiotics to include reducing overall inflammation, supporting gut health, addressing sleep and airway issues, and regulating the autonomic nervous system. We discuss school accommodations, flares after illness, and the emotional toll on families navigating disbelief and isolation. This conversation is both educational and deeply personal, offering clarity, validation, and practical insight for parents and providers trying to better understand PANS/PANDAS.Join Dr. Lauren LaRose, psychiatrist and mom of three, as she brings on experts in mental health, physical health and education and explores ideas outside the traditional medical model. The Little Brain Campaign aims to make issues kids and caregivers face easier to understand, while always keeping in mind that we need to look beyond the usual answers to find what really works.Follow The Little Brain CampaignInstagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thelittlebraincampaign/⁠