When strep triggers OCD and tics - Leah's story

An 11-year-old girl suffering from debilitating OCD, tics, anxiety and sleep disturbances describes living with PANDAS, Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Strep infections. Symptoms began at age 5. It took nearly 2 years and several doctors before getting a correct diagnosis. She was tested with the Cunningham Panel, a blood test which helps doctors identify autoimmune-induced encephalopathy, triggered by infections, such as #PANS and #PANDAS.
When patients with these conditions have Strep (or are exposed to a person with Strep) or who themselves have developed another infection, such as mycoplasma pneumoniae, influenza, Lyme disease, herpes simplex, or mono, they have an autoimmune response which causes inflammation in their brain - in a specific area responsible for movement and certain behaviors. PANS/PANDAS can mimic several psychiatric illnesses or neurologic disorders, such as Tourette's.