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Demystifying PANS/PANDAS: A Functional Medicine Guide to Basal Ganglia Encephalitis

PANS & PANDAS are complex autoimmune diseases that require a multi-system approach. PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Strep) involves antibodies from a strep infection reacting with brain tissue (specifically the basal ganglia in the brain) and triggering an abrupt onset of immune dysregulation and movement, learning and behavioral problems including OCD, anxiety and tics. With PANS (Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome), other infectious etiologies besides strep (yeast, viruses, other bacteria, parasites), toxic exposures, and metabolic abnormalities including mold mycotoxin disease are among other potential triggers for the immune dysregulation resulting in an abnormal autoimmune reaction and negative behavior, physical, and cognitive changes.

Tick or Vector Borne Diseases including Borrelia, Bartonella and Babesia among others may cause or contribute to an acute or subacute presentation and also need to be assessed and treated appropriately. Dr. O’Hara will discuss the latest research in the assessment and treatment of these devastating but recoverable illnesses. She will also delineate the 3-pronged approach of symptom support, finding and treating the underlying infectious or metabolic trigger(s) and providing immunomodulatory support. Participants will learn the research-based functional medicine approach to the care, diagnosis and treatment of these children.

The participant will be able to understand the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of PANS, PANDAS and Basal Ganglia Encephalitis.
The participant will be able to differentiate causes of anxiety, OCD and tics, as it relates to autoimmune and more specifically basal ganglia encephalitis.
The participant will be able to define the triad of treatments for PANS and PANDAS. This will include the research-based discussion of therapy, nutraceuticals as well as psychoactive medications in treating the symptoms as well as the evidence-based research on antimicrobials and immunomodulatory interventions including herbals, botanicals as well as medications.

Presenter: Dr. Nancy H. O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP

Dr. Nancy O’Hara is a board-certified Pediatrician. Prior to her medical career, Dr. O’Hara taught children with autism. She graduated with highest honors from Bryn Mawr 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 1998 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 also 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 in e-book or soft-cover formats. For more information on her membership and mentoring program, please visit https://www.drohara.com./ Additionally, Dr. O’Hara’s research on Folate Receptor Auto Antibodies and PANS/PANDAS was published this year https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm140...

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