Next steps

What School Staff and Nurses Can Do.

 
 
 

Tests for Strep and Other Infections

 
 

School nurses should refer possible patients for tests such as Strep, Lyme’s disease, Mycoplasma, and others.

It is preferable that patients are sent to a PANS/PANDAS specialist, as these physicians are aware of the detailed tests needed for proper diagnosis and treatment if needed. In some cases, PANS/PANDAS specific tests are also available. The tests will help in confirming the diagnosis and identify the trigger for the disease.

 
 
 
 

Literature and Referral to PANS/PANDAS Specialist

 
 

PANS/PANDAS patients and families go through a difficult time and typically go through several physicians before receiving a proper diagnosis. Providing literature results in more informed families as the parents visit physicians.

There are several physicians who still view PANS/PANDAS as controversial diagnosis. It is preferable to visit a PANS/PANDAS specialist. Each patient is unique and may display different symptoms. Even during PANS/PANDAS flareups, the symptoms shown by patients may be different.

Even after diagnosis, the treatment protocol varies from patient to patient as each patient responds differently to treatment. Some patients might benefit from steroid treatments, whereas some may need plasmapheresis or multiple rounds of IVIG.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Help in Preventing Exposure to Infections

 

During the illness and treatment phase, patients are prone to infections. If the student has received IVIG treatment, he/she is immunocompromised and thus it is imperative that the individual is not exposed to infections.

If anybody at school or in class is suffering from an infection, it is imperative that the parents of the PANS/PANDAS patients are informed.

 
 

Collaborative Approach with Psychologists and Occupational Therapists

 
 

School psychologists and occupational therapists should be aware of PANS/PANDAS, and accommodations should be made to help in the recovery of patients.

Appropriate school accommodation plans specific to PANS/PANDAS should be started for patients. It could be a 504 plan or an IEP plan. However, for IEP plans, administrators should be made aware of PANS/PANDAS and its symptoms, treatments, recovery, as well as the steps that can help in the recovery.