Understanding PANDAS in Children: What It Is, What Causes It, and How Chiropractic Can Help
Imagine this: your child wakes up one morning and suddenly they’re not the same. Obsessive thoughts, strange new tics, anxiety, tantrums, even regression in skills they’d already mastered. Parents describe it as “losing their child overnight.”
For many, this is the heartbreaking reality of PANDAS.
What Is PANDAS?
PANDAS stands for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections.
The trigger: A strep infection, like strep throat or scarlet fever.
The confusion: Instead of only attacking strep bacteria, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy brain cells in the basal ganglia (the part of the brain that regulates movement, behavior, and emotions).
The result: Sudden and severe changes in mood, behavior, and physical health.
This condition typically affects children between ages 3 and 12. It’s estimated that 1 in 200 children in the U.S. may be affected, but many cases are missed or misdiagnosed.
Common Signs of PANDAS
One of the defining features of PANDAS is its sudden onset. Parents often report that their child seemed fine one day and drastically different the next. Signs can include:
OCD behaviors: compulsive handwashing, checking, counting, or repetitive rituals
Tics: eye blinking, shoulder shrugging, throat clearing, grunting, repeating words
Emotional changes: anxiety, irritability, separation anxiety, aggression, or rapid mood swings
Regression: handwriting deterioration, baby talk, loss of skills, or bedwetting
Other struggles: sleep disturbances, sensory sensitivities (light, sound, touch), urinary frequency, nightmares
These behaviors are not “acting out” or “phases.” They are signs of neuroinflammation caused by an autoimmune response.
What Causes PANDAS?
Researchers point to a combination of factors — often called the “Perfect Storm.”
Strep infections: Group A strep is the trigger, but not every child with strep develops PANDAS.
Genetics: Family history of immune or mental health conditions raises risk.
Environmental stressors: Toxins, chronic stress, antibiotic overuse, or other infections can contribute.
Neurological vulnerability: Many kids show signs of nervous system dysregulation (dysautonomia, sensory issues, stress overload) even before strep.
This is why PANDAS can become a “rollercoaster.” Even after diet changes, supplements, or antibiotics, the underlying nervous system dysregulation is often left unaddressed — leaving the child vulnerable to flare-ups.
Where Chiropractic Fits In
Let’s be clear: chiropractic does not treat or cure PANDAS.
But chiropractic care is uniquely focused on the nervous system, which is central to how the immune system, brain, and body work together.
Neurologically-Focused Adjustments: Gentle, precise adjustments help restore balance in the autonomic nervous system (calming “fight or flight” dominance).
Reducing Dysautonomia: Kids with PANDAS often have an overwhelmed, stuck stress response. Adjustments help shift them toward rest, repair, and healing.
Immune System Support: By improving communication between the brain and body, chiropractic care supports better immune regulation and stress handling.
At Kingdom Chiropractic, we use advanced technology (like neurological scans) to see exactly how your child’s nervous system is functioning. That helps us build a personalized care plan that addresses the foundation — not just the surface symptoms.
What Families Notice Under Care
Parents of children with PANDAS often report:
Calmer moods and fewer meltdowns
Better sleep
More adaptability during flare-ups
Improved focus and school performance
A return of their child’s “spark”
Again — chiropractic doesn’t treat PANDAS. But by caring for the nervous system, it strengthens the foundation your child needs to heal, adapt, and thrive.
A Local Success Story
An 8-year-old girl from Gilbert came to our office after a strep infection triggered sudden OCD rituals, anxiety, and tics. Her parents said, “It felt like we lost her overnight.”
After months of antibiotics and supplements, they were still stuck on the “PANDAS rollercoaster.”
With consistent chiropractic care focused on calming her nervous system, her parents noticed big changes: better sleep, fewer tics, steadier moods — and most importantly, their daughter’s spark returning.
Her mom shared, “We finally feel like we have our little girl back.”
Final Thoughts: Hope for Parents
PANDAS can be overwhelming, confusing, and exhausting. It’s easy to feel isolated on the rollercoaster of symptoms and flare-ups. But you are not alone.
At Kingdom Chiropractic, we partner with families to provide safe, drug-free nervous system care that complements the medical and functional medicine steps you’re already taking. We believe every child deserves the chance to unlock their full potential — even in the face of complex challenges like PANDAS.
👉 If your child has been diagnosed with PANDAS or you suspect sudden behavioral changes after strep, reach out to schedule a consultation. Together, we can help your child’s nervous system find balance again — and bring more peace and hope back to your family’s journey.
