W5 investigates possible links between common infection and psychiatric and neurological disorders in children
canada goose uk black friday Two years ago, Noah Castellani was a calm, well adjusted seven canada goose factory outlet year old boy. His life in Surrey, British Columbia canada goose outlet jackets was much like any other kid his age attending school and playing hockey on the weekends. canada goose uk black friday
canada goose But one winter’s day, all of that changed. Noah’s mother, Leslie, distinctly recollects the moment she canada goose vest outlet realized something was wrong with her canada goose outlet in montreal son. It happened while Noah was playing hockey at a local rink. canada goose
canada goose black friday sale Within a week, Noah started acquiring strange new behaviours vocal canada goose outlet store montreal tics which evolved to grunting, and motor tics like eye rolling. Soon he began having frequent angry outbursts and worst canada goose outlet of all smashing his head against hard objects like tables and walls. canada goose black friday sale
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canada goose store “It was really tough watching our previously happy go lucky son, fun loving son, funny son, become something that you didn’t even know,” Leslie told W5. canada goose canada goose outlet official store
Canada Goose online When Leslie consulted with doctors, she was advised that he might have Tourette syndrome an often inherited tic disorder. But Tourette syndrome didn’t run in the canada goose outlet authentic family and doctors said they needed to observe a year of sustained tics to make a diagnosis. With a follow up appointment scheduled four months later, Leslie looked for canada goose outlet online reviews more information online. Canada Goose online
buy canada goose jacket That’s where she learned about canada goose outlet england a little known medical disorder affecting children called PANDAS an acronym for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated canada goose outlet new york with Streptococcal Infections. The testimonials Leslie read on the internet canada goose victoria parka outlet matched Noah’s behaviours, including the sudden and dramatic onset of his symptoms. The hypothesis that a bacterial https://www.getcanadagooseoutlet.com canada goose outlet shop infection like strep throat a common bug that affects many school aged children could be linked to mental or goose outlet canada neurological symptoms was ground breaking and controversial. buy canada goose jacket
Canada Goose Jackets canada goose outlet ottawa The NIMH canada goose outlet locations in toronto researchers suggested that in some cases of strep infection, a child’s immune system goes awry. Instead of attacking the strep, a child’s antibodies mistakenly attack a part of the brain the basal ganglia believed to be responsible for movement and behaviour. Canada Goose Jackets
Canada Goose Online But almost twenty years after PANDAS was proposed, many Canadian doctors still remain unaware of canada goose outlet orlando it. And a scientific debate amongst neurologists, psychiatrists, pediatricians and infectious disease specialists about the evidence linking strep infection to OCD and canada goose outlet niagara falls tics has led some doctors to question whether PANDAS even exists. Canada Goose Online
buy canada goose jacket cheap For Leslie Castellani, even getting a doctor to test her son, Noah, for strep with a throat swab or a blood test to measure antibodies was no easy feat. buy canada goose jacket cheap
canadian goose jacket When Leslie took Noah to a medical clinic and asked for him to be tested the canada goose sale uk doctor resisted. Noah didn’t seem to exhibit symptoms of strep throat. However, some children can have strep without exhibiting classical signs of the infection. canadian goose jacket
Canada Goose Outlet Only after Leslie broke down in desperation, did the doctor relent and agree to test Noah for strep. And days later, the test came back positive. The doctor prescribed a seven day dose of antibiotics and amazingly, Noah’s symptoms subsided canada goose premium outlet almost immediately. Canada Goose Outlet
Canada Goose canada goose jacket uk sale “Two days into the antibiotics the tics went down by 90%,” said Leslie. canada goose outlet toronto factory Canada Goose sale
canada goose coats Controversy over the strep connection canada goose coats
canada goose factory sale Leslie and Noah were relieved but when the antibiotics ran out Noah’s tics came back with intensity. PANDAS symptoms are sometimes characterized by a waxing and waning pattern depending on the persistence or recurrence of infection. canada goose jacket outlet toronto canada goose factory sale
canada goose clearance But controversy around PANDAS and the strep connection have impacted the way doctors treat children who exhibit symptoms of OCD or tics. canada goose clearance
uk canada goose “Controversy exists around PANDAS, there’s no question about it. And I think the main reason for that is we just don’t understand the condition well,” said Dr. Ran Goldman, a pediatrician at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver. uk canada goose
Canada Goose Parka While antibiotics are almost universally prescribed for strep infection, most doctors are generally reluctant to prescribe antibiotics long term fearful of dangerous bacteria that build resistance to those drugs or of destroying gut flora essential to overall health. Canada Goose Parka
cheap canada goose uk Doctors reluctant to prescribe long term antibiotics as well as those who are skeptical or unaware of PANDAS often primarily treat symptoms with therapy and psychiatric medications like Zoloft or Prozac for OCD. cheap canada goose uk
uk canada goose outlet As a result, children who suddenly present with OCD and tics, and their parents, are often caught in the middle of canada goose outlet paypal the controversy around PANDAS and the discrepancies in treatment. uk canada goose outlet
canada goose uk outlet Many families of children with PANDAS symptoms go from doctor to doctor, looking for answers and canada goose jacket outlet store direction. canada goose uk outlet
cheap Canada Goose “I wanted someone to help lead me through this. Nobody wants to watch their child deteriorate so quickly and feel like they can’t get anywhere in the medical system to get the help that the child needs,” said Leslie Castellani. cheap Canada Goose
canada goose uk shop After being frustrated by a series of pediatricians and specialists, Leslie and Noah finally turned to a naturopathic doctor, Ayla Wilson. In British Columbia, naturopathic doctors are allowed to prescribe antibiotics. After initially treating Noah with antibiotics and other canada goose outlet in uk medications, Wilson added natural supplements to boost his immunity and recommended dietary restrictions. canada goose uk shop
canada goose coats on sale And now, two years after his symptoms first appeared, Noah’s tics and rages are all but gone. Still, Leslie Castellani believes that his behaviours could resurface. canada goose coats on sale
Canada Goose Coats On Sale “I am well aware that I have several years more of this. But I know we’re heading in the right direction and that’s pretty exciting. I have my son again.” Canada Goose Coats On Sale.
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