Pans/Pandas

What is Pans/Pandas?

PANS and PANDAS are thought to be rare, although we are seeing a increase in cases. inflammatory conditions causing sudden, severe onset of obsessive-compulsive behaviors (OCD), tics, anxiety and mood changes in children, often following infections. behavioral or emotional dysregulation, sleep issues, eczema, recurrent congestion, or enuresis.

PANDAS is a subset specifically linked to Streptococcus.

PANS is a subset with broader causes, which are often challenging to pin point.

The immune system remains activated after exposure to toxins produced by living organisms. Common sources include mold from water-damaged buildings, certain bacteria and actinomycetes, cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), tick-borne organisms, and some parasites. In susceptible individuals, the body cannot properly clear these toxins, leading to ongoing inflammation even after exposure ends.

Why are some kids more affected than others?

Approximately 24–25% of individuals carry specific genetic patterns (HLA-DR/DQ) that impair biotoxin recognition and clearance. This explains why people sharing the same environment may experience very different health outcomes, including persistent symptoms in both adults and children.

Common Symptoms:

• Neurologic/Behavioral: brain fog, headaches, mood or behavioral changes, sleep disturbances or night terrors (children).

• Immune/Inflammatory: chronic congestion, eczema or skin flares, frequent illness.

• Hormonal/Metabolic: fatigue, thirst or frequent urination, temperature sensitivity.

• Gastrointestinal: abdominal pain, bloating, constipation or diarrhea, food sensitivities.

How is Pans/Pandas evaluated?

Diagnosis is supported by an in-depth health history, symptom onset evaluation, exposure history, symptom cluster screening, targeted laboratory markers of inflammation and immune regulation, and environmental assessment. No single test confirms Pans/Pandas; the pattern of findings is essential

What are the treatment options?

Pans/Pandas recovery requires far more than occasional visits. From initial stabilization to environmental assessment, detoxification, and longterm resilience. You are not navigating this alone. You have a dedicated clinician who knows your story, understands your physiology, and walks with you through each step of the process. Evaluation and treatment are age-appropriate, gentle, and safety-focused. We will focus on removing any environmental exposure, reducing inflammatory burden, normalizing immune signalling, and restoring long-term regulation. Treatment is guided by objective laboratory data and very close symptom monitoring. Treatment options will vary for each individual as the root cause is different for each body.

Key Takeaway:

understands the complexity of the condition and the emotional weight that often accompanies it. Pans/Pandas is often misdiagnosed as behavioral issues. symptoms are not psychological. Healing requires a safe environment and a structured, evidence-informed plan. With appropriate evaluation and support, many individuals experience meaningful improvement

Program Philosophy

Clarity. Structure. Partnership. Progress.

At Hendon Wellness, biotoxin illness is never reduced to a checklist or a single intervention. It is a complex, layered condition that requires clarity, steadiness, and a trusted guide. The CIRS Recovery Program is designed to bring structure to complexity, calm to overwhelm, and clarity to a condition that often feels anything but clear.

Clients are not expected to navigate this alone. CIRS recovery is a collaborative process, shaped by informed decision making, consistent guidance, and a therapeutic partnership built on trust. Hendon Wellness offers the framework, expertise, and compassionate presence needed to help clients move through each phase of recovery with confidence and clarity. Every interaction reflects respect, transparency, and a shared commitment to meaningful, sustainable progress. This is not transactional care. It is a guided journey.