Pans and Pandas: Clinical Insights and a Family's Story

About this event

There is no cost to attend, and all interested individuals are invited to participate. Continuing education credit will be available.

Attend at DMU or online

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DESCRIPTION

This session will provide an overview of Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS). Participants will review diagnostic criteria, clinical presentations, proposed autoimmune mechanisms, and current evaluation and treatment approaches, including antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and psychiatric management strategies.

EDUCATIONAL NEED

PANS and PANDAS are complex neuropsychiatric conditions that can present with the sudden onset of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, tics, and behavioral changes following infectious triggers. Because these disorders remain challenging to recognize and diagnose, healthcare professionals may have limited familiarity with their diagnostic criteria, clinical presentation, underlying pathophysiology, and available treatment approaches. Delayed recognition may contribute to unnecessary diagnostic testing, delayed intervention, and prolonged patient and family distress.

This session addresses the need for clinicians to better understand PANS and PANDAS by reviewing current evidence on diagnosis, proposed autoimmune mechanisms, evaluation, and multidisciplinary treatment strategies, enabling participants to recognize these conditions earlier and support appropriate, patient-centered management.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Define PANS and PANDAS, including the diagnostic criteria and distinguishing features.

• Recognize the classic clinical presentation, including acute onset of OCD, tics, behavioral changes, and associated neuropsychiatric symptoms.

• Explain the proposed pathophysiology involving post-infectious autoimmune mechanisms and the role of streptococcal and other infections as triggers.

• Describe the basic approach to evaluation and treatment options, including antibiotics, immunomodulatory therapies, and psychiatric management.

• Recognize the importance of patient and family history, including changes from the child's baseline, when evaluating sudden-onset neuropsychiatric symptoms and functional decline.

• Describe the impact of PANS/PANDAS on patients and families, including effects on eating, school, relationships, daily functioning, and quality of life.

• Identify the importance of coordinated, interprofessional and family-centered care when evaluating and supporting a child with PANS/PANDAS.

• Apply clinical and patient/family perspectives to a patient case to identify appropriate considerations for evaluation, management, communication, and family support.

SPEAKERS

Jon Ahrendsen, MD

Family Medicine, Iowa Specialty Hospitals and Clinics

Jodi Noble, PMP, MPA, MS, CPLP, CSM

Mother of Two Children Diagnosed with PANS

Emilie Noble

Young Adult with PANS