When Strep Throat Turned Our Lives Upside Down: Understanding PANDAS and Finding Hope

Ten years ago, our family’s world was turned completely upside down.

My son was just 11 years old when he came down with what seemed like a routine case of strep throat. But within a week, he began showing signs of obsessive-compulsive disorder—compulsively behaviors and repetitive rituals. Within a month, his symptoms were so severe he should have been hospitalized. It was terrifying—not just for him, but for us as parents. We had no idea what was happening to our bright, funny, healthy kid.

At the time, very little was known about the connection between strep and sudden-onset psychiatric symptoms in children. After months of research and desperation, we finally found a few doctors who recognized what we were dealing with. That’s when we first heard the term PANDAS—Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections.

PANDAS is a disorder that occurs when a strep infection triggers a misdirected immune response, causing inflammation in the brain. This inflammation can lead to a sudden onset of OCD, anxiety, tics, and other neuropsychiatric symptoms. It’s estimated that 1 in 200 children may be affected by this condition, yet many families and even healthcare providers remain unaware of its existence.

There is hope. With early recognition, proper treatment, and inflammation management, kids can recover. But awareness is everything.

In my latest podcast episode, I sit down with Ethan Pompeo, the CEO of Green Valley Nutrition, who shares his personal story and his mission to raise awareness about PANDAS and PANS. Ethan was also affected by this condition, and now dedicates his work to helping others understand the role inflammation plays in managing symptoms and supporting healing.

This conversation is raw, informative, and full of insight—not only for parents, but for anyone who cares about mental health, autoimmune conditions, or the gut-brain connection.

If you’ve never heard of PANDAS or suspect something like this might be affecting a child in your life, I urge you to listen. We talk about signs, treatments, the emotional toll, and the power of advocacy.

Learn more about PANDAS at https://pandasnetwork.org/

There’s still so much we need to learn—but there’s also so much hope. You're not alone.