Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome

What could make a happy-go-lucky child develop symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) seemingly overnight or start throwing temper tantrums and banging his head when he gets frustrated? What could make another child instantly develop an aversion to food so strong she vomits at the sight of it? What would explain a straight-A student suddenly developing a learning disability or difficulty with their handwriting? Tragically, more and more parents are asking these questions as their children, teens, and even some young adults suddenly develop neuropsychiatric illnesses that have no clear connection to a cause. And these parents are rarely getting any clear answers or effective treatment options from their primary care physicians. Frequently, parents are advised to seek psychiatric care for their children, which often leads to medication that fails to treat the underlying medical issues and causes other health issues. Fortunately for these children and their parents, there are possible […]