Grace Harper’s parents would have always described their daughter as a happy, loving young girl.

But, practically overnight, their once happy daughter began having brutal outbursts. These continued for nearly two years, and doctors couldn’t figure out the cause, but it turned out Grace’s behavior was the result of a very rare disease that is caused by strep infections.

The disease is called PANDAS, and its symptoms often lead to the misdiagnosis of mental problems.

PANDAS is short for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcus. After a child is infected with strep, their body produces antibodies to attack and kill the infection.

If a child is suffering from PANDAS, the antibodies instead attack a part of the brain that controls their behavior.

For so long, doctors didn’t know much about the disease, but now, they are trying to raise more awareness. It’s even become the main topic in a documentary called, “My Child is Not Crazy.”

For Grace’s parents, it took two long years and endless doctors appointments to figure out what was wrong with their daughter, but sadly, her’s isn’t the only case. A 6-year-old girl named Madeline Greenstein also suffered from similar symptoms.

Her mom said she would cry hysterically over nothing and experienced high pitched laughing like something you would hear in a mental institution. Madeline’s symptoms also resulted from PANDAS.

Thankfully, since strep is the cause if this disease, it can be treated with antibiotics. Grace’s parents thought that their daughter’s behavior would set her back in school, but with the right treatment, she is now back to her normal self.

2 Years Of Torture

Their child, Grace, was an innovative and articulate kid. However then all of unexpected, relatively over night, she ended up being a “raving time bomb,” succumbing to upset outbursts totally unlike her.

” They might be 4 to 5 hours shrieking raves on the flooring kicking and shouting. She struck the medical professional when,” her mother, Amber, remembers. “She was absolutely exploding.”

The extreme modification came as a frightening shock.

It began with high fevers, which would appear approximately monthly. With each fever came odd, compulsive habits. For instance, Grace would end up being insistent on “arranging” her possessions. All of her crayons needed to go in a specific order in a particular area, as did her shoes and her toys and so on. Grace lost it when things weren’t arranged so.

” I arrange them since when they aren’t arranged, I get distressed,” little Grace described.

It took a painful 2 years of medical facility check outs and assessments with lots of physicians prior to they found out Grace’s signs originated from PANDAS. And her story is not distinct.

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A Comparable Case

A pleased, outbound 6-year-old woman called Madeline Greenstein experienced comparable issues. After 3 strep infections in 3 months, Madeline’s friendly temperament unexpectedly turned afraid and distressed.

” I consider frightening things and after that I get terrified,” Madeline discussed.

Within 2 months, she was “sobbing hysterically over absolutely nothing. High pitch chuckling like what you would hear in a psychological institute,” explained her mama.

Like Grace, Madeline’s habits arised from PANDAS, an uncommon infection triggered by strep.

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More About PANDAS

PANDAS represent Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcus. Normally, when a kid comes down with strep, the body’s body immune system makes antibodies to assault the infection. Nevertheless, in kids with PANDAS, the antibodies appear to assault the part of the brain that manages habits. The outcome is an unexpected beginning of frightening reactions such as OCD, separation stress and anxiety, anorexia, bed-wetting, tics, or the worsening of motor abilities and handwriting.

” The secret is, the psychiatric signs simply begin over night,” stated Michael A. Jenike, MD Teacher of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

In truth, the signs are so typically incorrect as mental disorder, acknowledgment and research study is only simply now emerging for PANDAS. For several years, physicians had no concept what was happening with these kids.

” These moms and dads get so disappointed. They resemble, ‘Where ‘d my kid go?’,” stated Dr. Amy Darter, the Medical Director at the Oklahoma Institute of Allergic Reaction, Asthma, Immunology. “An average, regular, daily infection that human beings are exposed to, in some individuals who are susceptible, can activate this sort of action. You see a regular kid. Then, an infection. And after that you see a kid you do not acknowledge as your own any longer. It strikes that rapidly, and it can be extremely extensive.”

The uncommon illness triggered by strep is now the focus of a documentary called “My Kid Is Not Crazy,” considering that numerous are not familiar with it. Video footage of the afflicted kids is definitely heartbreaking, which is precisely why medical professionals and moms and dads are working so tough to raise awareness.

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Treatment For PANDAS

Nevertheless, there is excellent news.

” After you look after this unusual immune action, you can get these kids back,” Dr. Darter stated.

Considering that strep is the underlying cause, old-fashioned prescription antibiotics will generally suffice. The secret is determining PANDAS so the correct course of prescription antibiotics is recommended.

And for households like the Harpers, lastly having a medical diagnosis is a God-send.

” We lastly have a response,” stated Amber Harper. “There’s a roadway to healing. We lastly have a course. It’s a long roadway. It’s not a simple roadway. However we have a response. We have a strategy and we can stroll that roadway.”

Grace’s moms and dads were particular their little woman would be required to duplicate the very first grade due to her disease. Now, after a constant treatment with a mix of prescription antibiotics, Grace is back on track!