WSJ: Does Strep Throat Trigger Serious Ills?

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Does Strep Throat Trigger Serious Ills? Researchers Link Common Ailment With Rare Disorders, Such as Behavioral Issues, Ticshttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203518404577094604010074464.htmlMillions of U.S. children get strep throat every year, and in the vast majority of cases, symptoms clear up quickly. In a small number of cases, however, the outcome may be more worrisome.Research is just beginning into the condition known as Pandas (for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcus). That's when the same Group A streptococcus bacteria seem to trigger an autoimmune reaction that brings a sudden onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), tics and other neurological changes, including anxiety, irritability, hyperactivity, anorexia and urinary problems. " Parents have used the word 'possessed,' " says Swedo, chief of pediatrics and developmental neuroscience at the National Institute of Mental Health who first made the connection to strep in the mid-1990s. " Their sweet, wonderful child turns into a monster seemingly overnight. " In some cases, the neurological symptoms resolve with antibiotics, although they often return and worsen if the child is exposed to strep again....