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PANDAS/PANS Prevalence

A conservative estimate is 1 in 200 children in the

U.S. alone. However, the true lifetime prevalence of PANDAS/PANS is not known.*

The statistical relevance is equal to Pediatric Cancer., Pediatric Diabetes I and II., and ALS³. The healthy outcome of a child’s life can be seriously affected, but research and treatment for PANDAS/PANS is scarce.

How do we determine the estimated lifetime prevalence of PANDAS/PANS for children 18 and under?

•Approximately 500,000 children are diagnosed with OCD in U.S.⁴

•Approximately 138,000 children are diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome in the U.S.⁵

•1.5 million+ children were diagnosed with serious anxiety/phobia/OCD/bipolar in a given year (1994-2011)⁶

•“Dr. Swedo estimates that (PANDAS) kids may make up as much as 25 percent of children diagnosed with OCD and tic disorders, such as Tourette syndrome.”⁷

*The estimated prevalence is based on PANDAS Network research.

New to understanding PANS diseases including PANDAS? Start with this guide.

PANDAS/PANS Population Analysis

Based on 700 family self-reports

AGE OF ONSET
  • 1 to 3 years 11%
  • 4 to 9 years 69%
  • 10 to 13 years 19%
  • 14+ years 1%
PRIMARY SYMPTOMS
  • OCD 37%
  • TICS 14%
  • BOTH 49%
INFECTIONS REPORTED
  • Strep 81%
  • Other 19%

(Mycoplasma, Lyme, etc.)

FAMILY MEDICAL HISTORY IN FIRST OR SECOND GENERATION

Based on 100 family self-reports 70% of families reported BOTH

  • Autoimmune Illness
  • Strep Related Severity Illness

PANDAS/PANS POPULATION OVERVIEW

  • Young age at onset: 6.5+/- 2 years for Tics and 7.4 +/- 2 years for OCD⁸
  • The ratio for boy to girls is 2.6:1 ; below age 8 years, the ratio of boys to girls is 4.7:1⁸

Citations

¹KantarHealth, CancerMPact Patient metrics U.S., accessed June 28, 2012

²National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse/NDIC (information as of 2010); http://1.usa.gov/LfNKrk

³ALS Association (information as of 2011); http://bit.ly/nRR94U

⁴IOCDF.org; http://bit.ly/rimFAb

⁵CDC.gov; http://1.usa.gov/MoghKH

⁶Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mental health surveillance among children – United States 2005–2011. MMWR 2013;62(Suppl; May 16, 2013):1-35.

⁷Scientific American: From Throat to Mind: Strep Today, Anxiety Later? (2010); http://bit.ly/5ro0mv

⁸Swedo et al (1998) PANDAS: Clinical Description of the First 50 Cases; http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/data/Journals/AJP/3685/264.pdf