Growing numbers of children treated for autism are being re-diagnosed with a brain inflammation illness.
That’s the view of Vicky Burford, who is a trustee of charity PANS PANDAS UK.
Infections causing brain inflammation
PANS PANDAS are a group of conditions triggered by infections that cause brain inflammation.
Vicky Burford, whose son Gregory regressed into autism following an infection
Burford’s 15-year-old son Gregory was diagnosed with autism after an infection on holiday three years ago.
Following a nose and ear infection, he regressed heavily into autism.
He was also diagnosed with Lyme disease. This is spread through ticks and can cause a rash and flu-like symptoms.
Regression
Burford, from Leamington Spa, is unsure whether her son’s regression was triggered by the nose-and-ear infection or Lyme disease.
But two years later doctors diagnosed PANS (Paediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome).
Recovery after antibiotics
Gregory recovered after treatment with antibiotics. Burford said her son now has Asperger’s syndrome, rather than the severe autism he displayed after his regression.
She said: “He’s living his best life. He’s got a girlfriend and he’s doing well at school.”
Medics diagnose PANS PANDAS through observation after taking a detailed history.
They first rule out other conditions, such as brain tumours, as the cause.
Re-diagnosis with PANS PANDAS
Burford maintains that growing numbers of parents are looking over the history of their child’s autism and discovering links to illness. Medics then re-diagnose the children with PANS PANDAS.
The charity believes thousands of children with the condition are misdiagnosed with autism.
Burford said: “We’re seeing growing numbers of people joining our Facebook group. I think I worked out that we took just under 100 people in the last week.”
PANDAS stands for Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections. It is a subset of PANS, where a skin, throat, blood, muscle or fat tissue infection triggers the misdirected immune response.
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Published: 28 October 2019
