Rare Clinical Presentations of Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal Infection: A Case Series from Eastern India

Abstract

Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal Infection (PANDAS) occurs in the child and adolescent age group. It is characterised by the acute onset of Obsessive-compulsive Disorders (OCD) and/or tic disorders following an infection with Group A Beta-haemolytic Streptococci (GABHS), but it can also present with a variety of unique clinical manifestations. Despite the high prevalence of streptococcal infections in the Indian subcontinent, very few cases have been reported due to a lack of awareness. Hereby, the authors present a case series of four cases (one female and three males) of PANDAS with rare presenting symptoms, including dissociative (conversion) disorder and hoarding disorder, each with evidence of a preceding streptococcal infection.

Keywords

• dissociative conversion disorder
• group a beta haemolytic streptococci
• hoarding disorder
• obsessive compulsive disorders
• tic disorder