In January 2025, I saw a 7-year-old boy whose parents were perplexed and devastated with their son's sudden onset of severe aggression and emotional dysregulation at school. Their previously "happy-go-lucky" child had transformed seemingly overnight in September 2024.

The Presentation:

• Sudden onset of severe aggression and emotional dysregulation at school

• Describing himself as feeling "fizzy" before explosive outbursts

• New tics: repetitive arm movements, spitting, involuntary swearing (Tourette's-like)

• Obsessive thoughts about fairness, acute anxiety

• Social regression - withdrawn from friends, couldn't attend assemblies

• Sleep disturbance with nightmares, fear of the dark

• Reduced appetite

• Emotional lability

His school labeled it "behavioral issues" and a psychiatrist prescribed ADHD medication which seemingly made him worse - "hyper, like he was off his head."

After working with many PANS/ PANDAS cases over the last few years I recognized his symptoms ticked a lot of boxes for P/P. His mom wasn’t familiar with P/P so I encouraged her to do some research and told her about some of the different ways my clients have approached similar symptoms with allopathic medicine, functional medicine and homeopathy.

Based on my experience from working with PANDAS I had a sense Strep was the trigger so I started him on a miasmatic remedy that we associate with autoimmunity, a well indicated constitutional remedy, a weekly dose of strep nosode, and low-dose homeopathic gut and immune support.

The Transformation (4 months later)

His mother's words say it best:

✨ "You could see his whole system in fight-or-flight. And now it's better."

✨ Back to full school hours - no more suspensions

✨ Participating in assemblies - able to say his lines in front of everyone

✨ Made friends - now talks about his "BFF" and having playdates

✨ "Fizziness" completely gone - he never mentions it anymore

✨ Anger outbursts reduced - now only argues about screen time limits (age-appropriate!)

✨ No longer locking himself in rooms at school

✨ Sleep improved - settling at bedtime, appetite restored

✨ Emotional regulation restored - can handle disappointment without exploding, he's much more in control. He can regulate more easily, and seems happier.

✨ Family members "couldn't believe the difference in him"

During this time he was referred to an Immunologist who confirmed PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal infections):

• Elevated Strep titres: 512 (normal <200)

• Multiple immune dysregulation markers

• Recent strep infection

• Allergies: grass pollen and mold

What His Mother Said: "Everything recommended by the immunologist has made him worse. Strong antihistamines made him drowsy. Antibiotics made his behavior worse”.

Back on homeopathic treatment: Homeopathy has has really been life altering for him. We have just finished the last course last week and noticed several improvements. It feels like we are moving in the right direction again.

The Lesson:

🔸 Sudden-onset neuropsychiatric symptoms + tics + violence + infection history = think PANDAS.

🔸 This wasn't bad behavior. This was immune-mediated brain inflammation.

🔸 When we treated the cause - not just the symptoms - we got the child back.

If you would like support to help heal your child with PANS/ PANDAS I am available for consultations. You are welcome to schedule a discovery call via my website.

Photo by Sodbayar Photography on Unsplash