October 9, 2025: PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day

WHEREAS, pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) and its subset, pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS), are serious inflammatory brain conditions most frequently caused by misdirected immune responses following a strep, other bacterial, or viral infection; and,

WHEREAS, children with PANS/PANDAS typically experience an acute onset of obsessive compulsive disorder or severely restrictive food intake accompanied by other symptoms such as anxiety, mood swings, depression, irritability, aggression, oppositional behaviors, behavioral regression, deterioration in school work, sensory or motor abnormalities, tics, ADHD-like symptoms, sleep disturbances, enuresis, or urinary frequency, placing significant physical, emotional, and financial stress on affected individuals and their families; and,

WHEREAS, there is an estimated one new case of PANS/PANDAS per 11,000 children each year, and although it is not a rare condition, it is rarely diagnosed. With an estimated accumulated prevalence of 1 in 200 children impacted by PANS/PANDAS, the condition is likely as common as pediatric cancer and juvenile diabetes and can seriously impact health outcomes; and,

WHEREAS, effective treatment varies by the needs of the child and can be as simple as antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications or could also include steroids, IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin), plasmapheresis, or cognitive behavioral therapy in more severe cases; and,

WHEREAS, early diagnosis and treatment are critical in helping children affected with PANS/PANDAS achieve best outcomes; and,

WHEREAS, a lack of awareness by parents and among the medical community can lead to inaccurate or missed diagnoses, resulting in increased costs to health care systems, families, and tax payers to cover long-term needs such as educational interventions, psychiatric services, and residential care for untreated individuals; and,

WHEREAS, fifteen states to date have made a strong commitment to protect affected children by passing legislation making full treatment benefits available to them and their families; and,

WHEREAS, this month, the State of Michigan joins in the cause to increase awareness, promote accurate and timely diagnoses, and encourage greater support for all children and families affected by PANS/PANDAS across Michigan;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim October 9, 2025, as PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day in Michigan.