PANS/PANDAS

When Your Child Changes Almost Overnight

Some children experience sudden, dramatic changes in mood, behavior, anxiety, eating patterns, sleep, attention, or functioning. For families, it can feel like their child changed overnight—and many are left searching for answers.

Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS)

At Wild Ember Psychiatry & Therapy, we specialize in evaluating and supporting children with suspected PANS/PANDAS and related neuroimmune presentations. Our approach is thoughtful, comprehensive, and collaborative, looking beyond symptoms to better understand what may be contributing to your child’s sudden changes.

What Are PANS and PANDAS?

PANS and PANDAS are conditions in which a child may develop sudden-onset psychiatric, behavioral, or neurological symptoms that appear to be associated with immune system activation, infection, inflammation, or other medical triggers.

These symptoms may be mistaken for anxiety, OCD, ADHD, depression, behavioral problems, or defiance—especially when the onset is sudden and intense.

Signs Parents May Notice

Children with PANS/PANDAS may experience sudden or significant changes such as:

New or worsening OCD symptoms
Severe anxiety or panic
Emotional outbursts or irritability
Sudden separation anxiety
Restrictive eating or food fears
Tics or unusual movements
Sleep disruption
Regression in behavior or functioning
Decline in handwriting or school performance
Sensory sensitivity
Urinary frequency
Hyperactivity or impulsivity
Mood swings
Depression or withdrawal

Our Approach

We understand that these cases are complex and often require looking at the whole child—not just one diagnosis.

Our evaluation may include:

Detailed psychiatric assessment
Review of symptom onset and timeline
Medical and developmental history
Family history
Infection and immune-related history
Review of prior labs, records, and treatment response
Collaboration with pediatricians, specialists, therapists, and other providers when appropriate

Our goal is to help families clarify what may be contributing to symptoms and create a treatment plan that supports stability, healing, and improved functioning.

At Wild Ember, we do not dismiss sudden behavioral changes as “just behavior.” We help families explore what may be underneath the symptoms and guide next steps with compassion and clinical expertise.

Specialized PANS/PANDAS Support

PANS and PANDAS cases are often complex and may require coordination between psychiatric, medical, and therapeutic providers.

Wild Ember Psychiatry & Therapy partners with Dr. Spiekerman at Arcadia Pediatric Consulting to provide collaborative care for children with suspected or diagnosed PANS/PANDAS. Together, we help families navigate evaluation, treatment recommendations, symptom management, and ongoing support while maintaining continuity of care across providers.

This collaborative model allows us to address both the emotional and behavioral symptoms children experience while ensuring families have access to specialized medical expertise when appropriate.

You Are Not Overreacting

Parents often know when something is different.

If your child’s symptoms appeared suddenly, worsened rapidly, or feel out of character, it may be worth exploring whether PANS/PANDAS or another underlying medical or neuroimmune process could be playing a role.

We are here to help you make sense of what is happening and support your child’s path forward.