An official State of Texas website.
The HHSC Office of Disability Prevention for Children (ODPC) is offering a free webinar, “Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS), an Often-Overlooked Condition in Children,” from 10–11:15 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 4. Register for the webinar here.
The webinar is intended to raise awareness of PANS in advance of PANS Awareness Day on Oct. 9.
PANS is a medical condition where a child suddenly develops obsessive-compulsive symptoms or severe eating restrictions, along with at least two other cognitive, behavioral or neurological symptoms. Symptoms typically appear following an infection or other inflammatory reaction.
An estimated 1–2% of children are affected by PANS, according to the PANS Research Consortium. Estimates suggest that about 11,000 children younger than 18 develop this illness each year in Texas.
In 2019, the Texas Legislature established the PANS Advisory Council to advise HHSC and the Legislature on research, diagnosis, treatment and education related to the condition. The governor appoints council members, and ODPC collaborates with the council to promote awareness and education.
A PANS diagnosis is based on an analysis of the child’s medical history, current symptoms and a physical examination. Doctors must perform a comprehensive evaluation to rule out other potential disorders, such as toxic effects of drugs or medications. PANS interferes with a child’s ability to learn in school and, if left untreated, can negatively affect quality of life.
To learn more about PANS, read the PANS Advisory Council report on the Council webpage. For more information, visit the ODPC webpage.