9781422285749

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PANDAS

It may seem strange, but a throat infection called strep can sometimes trigger OCD in certain kids. Doctors are not certain why this happens, but they do have a theory. When you get sick, your body produces antibodies to attack the disease. And it seems that sometimes the antibodies go too far, and they begin attacking parts of the brain. Kids who have never shown signs of OCD can develop it very quickly. This type of OCD is called PANDAS, which stands for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections.

It’s important to understand that while strep is very common, PANDAS is not. And it often gets better over time, as the antibodies end their attack.

Intrusive thoughts and rituals can be different for every person. But there are some things people with OCD often do. Hand-washing is one common ritual, and so is putting objects in a specific order. Another is counting—for example, someone might count the number of steps she takes. Checking and rechecking something, as with our locked door example, is another common compulsion. Some people with OCD can’t stop thinking that something terrible is about to happen—they believe they are about to get hurt or that they are about to hurt someone else. Or they are sure they will catch a disease. Other people with OCD ask