So a friend is a medical doctor in the UK, working in general practice.
The family catch Covid.
They all slowly recover.
The family catch Covid.
They all slowly recover.
A few weeks later, her 10yo son starts to develop extreme anxiety and obsessive suicidal thoughts.
If he was at a road he would be unable to stop thinking about throwing himself into the road.
If he saw a knife he would obsessively picture stabbing himself with it.
One time he picked up the knife and tried.
One time he picked up the knife and tried.
Another family member stopped him.
The doctor mum gave him first aid.
They visited the family GP who said it was anxiety.
They decided to try some therapy before medication.
The therapy got nowhere, and things were only getting worse.
They decided to try some therapy before medication.
The therapy got nowhere, and things were only getting worse.
At this point, I heard about how bad everything was. The family was in serious distress.
I'm not a doctor, I'm a priest, and the first thing I thought was 'that sounds like PANS. he's got neural inflammation following Covid'.
I'm not a doctor, I'm a priest, and the first thing I thought was 'that sounds like PANS. he's got neural inflammation following Covid'.
I told my friend.
She knew about PANS, but didn't know it could happen after Covid.
She talked to the family GP about it.
GP knew about PANS but didn't know it could happen after Covid.
She knew about PANS, but didn't know it could happen after Covid.
She talked to the family GP about it.
GP knew about PANS but didn't know it could happen after Covid.
They tested and treated for PANS (I didn't ask what the exact treatment was), and the symptoms vanished.
The point of my story isn't that kids can get PANS after Covid.
I mean, obviously they can.
My point is that how on earth do two experienced family GPs not know that Covid can cause PANS?
I mean, obviously they can.
My point is that how on earth do two experienced family GPs not know that Covid can cause PANS?
How many more kids out there are being diagnosed with anxiety when they have brain inflammation?
This was the 10yo's second Covid infection.
He hadn't been vaccinated at this stage, he has been since.
He hadn't been vaccinated at this stage, he has been since.
Correction (sorry, I'm really tired today) the son was initially diagnosed with OCD. He already had anxiety.
Two other things:
The lad's mental health is far better now.
And also I felt like such a fool while trying to decide about suggesting it was PANS to them. I so nearly kept my mouth shut. What do I, a twitter user, know, compared with an experienced doctor?
I'm so glad I spoke.
The lad's mental health is far better now.
And also I felt like such a fool while trying to decide about suggesting it was PANS to them. I so nearly kept my mouth shut. What do I, a twitter user, know, compared with an experienced doctor?
I'm so glad I spoke.
One last (probably) thing.
The mum shared her story on Facebook, trying to educate other people to the risk.
Some of her 'friends' criticised her so strongly for scaremongering that she deleted her account.
The mum shared her story on Facebook, trying to educate other people to the risk.
Some of her 'friends' criticised her so strongly for scaremongering that she deleted her account.
Mum: "Look out, your child might fall off that cliff!"
Other mums: "Stop scaring people! Don't shout like that! Your tone of voice is alarmist!"
Other mums: "Stop scaring people! Don't shout like that! Your tone of voice is alarmist!"
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