Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) is a condition where a child suddenly starts showing severe changes in behavior, mood, or physical health—often almost overnight. The changes are not caused by trauma or a known psychiatric disorder but instead by the immune system reacting to a trigger, such as an infection (including COVID-19), inflammation, or even environmental stressors. PANS can take many forms.
Some children may throw things and exhibit violent and destructive behavior that is sudden and not congruent with their normal behavior.
Other children may exhibit extreme anxiety and abnormal fears and/or phobias. For instance, one of my patients, a nine year old little girl, developed an intense fear that someone at school would poison her food. There was no basis for this fear and it came on suddenly after she suffered a viral infection. After early treatment in my clinic, she no longer exhibits any abnormal fear. For other kids, they may start exhibiting symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder. PANS is tricky as it may present in many different forms.
Think of it like this: instead of just fighting off an illness, your child’s immune system accidentally affects their brain, especially areas that control emotions, behavior, and movement. This leads to very real, very distressing symptoms that can look like sudden-onset OCD, eating issues, anxiety, or even tics.
Emerging evidence indicates a connection between Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Pediatric Long COVID. Several case reports and studies have documented instances where children developed PANS-like symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection. For example, a case report detailed dizygotic twin adolescents who, after asymptomatic COVID-19 infections, exhibited acute-onset obsessive-compulsive behaviors and restrictive eating patterns consistent with PANS (1).
Further research has observed that PANS symptoms triggered by COVID-19 closely resemble those initiated by other infectious agents, including obsessive-compulsive behaviors, eating disorders, and a range of emotional and behavioral symptoms (2).
Additionally, surveys and clinical observations have reported a notable number of children presenting with PANS-like symptoms following COVID-19 infection, highlighting the need for increased awareness and research into this overlap.
The connection lies in the immune system’s response: instead of fighting off the virus alone, the immune reaction spills over into the brain, particularly in areas that control emotions, movement, and behavior. This misdirected attack can cause sudden, severe neuropsychiatric symptoms that are both real and distressing.
This approach goes beyond symptom management. The goal is not to suppress symptoms temporarily, but to help the nervous system reset and heal. We seek to rebuild the foundation of health so children can begin to thrive again.
If your child is showing sudden, severe behavioral or emotional changes after COVID-19, it may be PANS—and early recognition matters. The Spero Clinic specializes in helping children with complex post-viral conditions by treating the body and nervous system as a whole.
Schedule a Zoom consultation today to find out if our program is the right fit for your child and family. Together, we can begin the journey toward healing.
Disclaimer: The information written on this website is designed to provide helpful information on various conditions and the subjects discussed. This website is not meant to be used to diagnose or treat any medical condition or to replace the advice of your physician(s). The author of this website does not claim to treat, diagnose or cure Long COVID, CRPS, EDS/POTS, AMPS, or any other specific condition or infection. The Spero Clinic treats the central nervous system only, often resulting in the body being able to heal itself.
You should regularly consult a physician in matters relating to your health, particularly with respect to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. For diagnosis or treatment of any medical problem, consult your own physician(s).
Start your patient journey with the Spero Clinic's neurologic rehabilitation program.
