Diagnostic Approach to Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated With Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS): A Narrative Review of Literature Data

Adriana Prato; Mariangela Gulisano; Miriam Scerbo; Rita Barone; Carmelo M Vicario; Renata Rizzo

doi:10.3389/fped.2021.746639

Diagnostic Approach to Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated With Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS): A Narrative Review of Literature Data

Front Pediatr. 2021 Oct 27:9:746639. doi: 10.3389/fped.2021.746639. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Adriana Prato^{1

2}, Mariangela Gulisano², Miriam Scerbo², Rita Barone², Carmelo M Vicario¹, Renata Rizzo²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Cognitive Sciences, Psychology, Education and Cultural Studies, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
² Child and Adolescent Neurology and Psychiatric Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Catania University, Catania, Italy.

Abstract

Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS) are clinical conditions characterized by the sudden onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder and/or tics, often accompanied by other behavioral symptoms in a group of children with streptococcal infection. PANDAS-related disorders, including pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS), childhood acute neuropsychiatric symptoms (CANS), and pediatric infection triggered autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders (PITANDs), have also been described. Since first defined in 1998, PANDAS has been considered a controversial diagnosis. A comprehensive review of the literature was performed on PubMed and Scopus databases, searching for diagnostic criteria and diagnostic procedures of PANDAS and related disorders. We propose a test panel to support clinicians in the workout of PANDAS/PANS patients establishing an appropriate treatment. However, further studies are needed to improve our knowledge on these acute-onset neuropsychiatric conditions.

Keywords: autoimmune; diagnostic criteria; neuropsychiatric disorders; pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS); pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS); streptococcal infection.

Publication types

Review