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What does treatment for PANS or PANDAS actually look like?

Treatment generally works toward three goals at once: finding and treating any active infection, addressing the immune system dysfunction causing brain inflammation, and managing the neuropsychiatric symptoms the child is experiencing. For infection, providers typically culture for strep in the child and often family members, and check for other potential triggers. If a bacterial infection is found, antibiotics are prescribed. For the immune response, anti-inflammatory approaches may be part of the picture, with more intensive immune-directed therapies considered when initial treatment is not sufficient. For symptoms, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy using Exposure and Response Prevention (CBT/ERP) is an important part of managing the OCD and anxiety components. The right approach for any individual child depends on symptom severity, episode history, and what the evaluation finds.

This content is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition.
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