Ask Dr Geller

[Guest guest]

In a case of PANDAS that induces a tic disorder and not a " classic "

OCD episode, is there any merit to giving the child an

anti-inflammatory to reduce the swelling of the basal ganglia? Could

it possibly reduce the tic symptoms or shorten the time that the tic

is present?

My child is 6 and not on any medications. He has had strep twice this

fall and both times developed a severe complex upper body tic. The

first tic lasted three days. The strep was treated with amoxicillin.

The second infection came 5 weeks later and the tic showed up three

days before he tested " very " positive for strep. The strep was treated

with a 10 day course of augmentin. The tic lasted 5 weeks, with the

most severe period being weeks 2-3 after the strep. Both episodes came

with extreme mood lability, tantrums and anxious energy.

During the second episode, the school performed routine eye and

hearing exams and suggested he be rechecked because of borderline

" failing " scores. His eyes were checked just prior to all of this and

they were fine. Could PANDAS effect eyesight or hearing during a flair up?

Thanks,