Dear Annie today

[Guest guest]

Dear Annie: I am a smart, funny, typical 8th-grade girl with lots of

friends and good grades.

I do, however, suffer from PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric

Disorders Associated with Streptococcus), which causes tics. In my case, this

ranges from repetitive blinking and certain movements to making little

noises with my throat. It's hard to control and usually worsens when I am

under stress. However, I can still lead a perfectly normal life.

Last year, two girls took it upon themselves to tease me and repeatedly ask

why I do these things. I quickly stood up to these bullies, and my friends

helped. As soon as the bullies realized no one cared and I wasn't going to

let them bother me, the teasing stopped.

Please educate your readers about PANDAS and also Tourette syndrome, as the

two are similar. I also urge your readers to stand up to the bullies,

whether for themselves or someone else. Teens who suffer from these syndromes

would appreciate it. — Virginia

Dear Virginia: You sound like a strong young woman and are fortunate to

have such supportive friends. Thank you for giving our readers a chance to

learn about PANDAS, a pediatric autoimmune disorder affecting children between

the ages of 3 and puberty. It is connected to OCD and/or tic disorders

such as Tourette's, and it appears to affect the region in the brain

responsible for movement and behavior.

If you notice your child has an abrupt onset of OCD and/or tics immediately

following a strep throat or other strep infection, talk to your

pediatrician about PANDAS. Symptoms usually improve gradually over time,

although

another strep infection can make them worse. At the moment, treatment options

are similar for those with OCD — cognitive behavioral therapy and/or

medication. For more information, contact the International PANDAS Foundation

(www.internationalpandasfoundation.org/obsessivecompulsivedisorder) or the

International OCD Foundation (ocfoundation.org).

(http://www.creators.com/lifestylefeatures/humor/teresa-strasser.html)