How To Find the Right Doctor for PANDAS in Charleston, SC

Diagnosing PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) requires a provider who understands the relationship between immune dysfunction and sudden shifts in neurological behavior. Because this condition can include infectious disease, psychiatry, and neuroinflammation, a diagnosis often involves collaboration between multiple specialties. Pediatricians may be the first to recognize changes, but functional and environmental medicine physicians, especially those trained through the MedMAPS program, are well-positioned to assess the broader immune and environmental landscape contributing to the child’s symptoms. At the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine (COEM), providers apply this type of comprehensive framework when evaluating cases that present with abrupt-onset OCD, anxiety, tics, or behavioral regression.

The process includes a clinical review of sudden psychiatric or neurologic symptoms, often days or weeks following an acute infection, along with supportive findings such as elevated antibody titers or signs of immune dysregulation. What makes the specialists at COEM distinct is their ability to integrate medical history with functional lab testing, exposure assessments, and immune profiling to help confirm or rule out PANDAS in complex or unclear cases. This approach allows for both identification and early planning of a treatment path before the condition becomes more deeply entrenched.

Individuals looking for a PANDAS specialist need look no further than COEM who are sought out worldwide for their expertise. The MedMAPS program prepares physicians to manage children with complex developmental and immune-based disorders using evidence-informed care. Specialists with this training are not only familiar with the behavioral symptoms of PANDAS but also the underlying triggers and biological contributors. Parents seeking expert support often turn to providers like those at COEM, where the clinical team is equipped to handle the full scope of physical, behavioral, and environmental components that may be driving the condition. These practitioners offer a deeper understanding of conditions like PANDAS, which don’t always follow traditional patterns and often go missed in conventional settings. By working with a provider familiar with this training, parents are more likely to access a treatment approach that not only targets symptoms, but also supports the child’s immune system and addresses contributing environmental exposures, which are all factors considered part of COEM’s diagnostic and therapeutic process.

Treatment for PANDAS is tailored to individual needs to control surface-level symptoms and promote lasting wellness. A successful approach may involve addressing the triggering infection with antimicrobials and also calming immune inflammation and restoring neurological balance. At COEM, care plans are developed with a full view of the child’s immune health, medical history, behavioral presentation, and environmental exposures. For many patients, this includes a combination of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory support, and nutritional therapy as needed. What sets treatment apart in a setting like COEM is the use of a holistic model that goes beyond temporary symptom relief. The clinic’s approach is built to intervene early, reduce immune activation, and support brain healing in the aftermath of acute episodes. Left untreated, PANDAS may lead to long-term disruptions in mood, cognition, school performance, and daily functioning. A timely and individualized plan of care offers the best chance for symptom resolution and for helping the child return to a state of developmental progress and emotional stability.

Without effective intervention, symptoms of PANDAS may linger for weeks or even months, often flaring in waves following new infections. Some children experience consistent disruption, while others cycle between relative stability and abrupt relapse. The longer the condition is left untreated, symptoms may expand to include anxiety, rage episodes, intrusive thoughts, regression, or difficulty with concentration and learning. Over time, this can have a significant impact on the child’s sense of well-being, school performance, and ability to engage socially. The specialists at COEM prioritize early intervention, combining antimicrobials, immune stabilization, and behavioral therapy to reverse symptoms before they become harder to manage. By addressing both the neurological inflammation and the infectious root, outcomes can be improved, and the likelihood of long-term complications can be greatly reduced.

PANDAS treatment is available at the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine (COEM). For more information, contact us today or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 7510 North Forest Drive North Charleston, SC 29420. We serve patients from Charleston SC, Mount Pleasant SC, Summerville SC, North Charleston SC, Goose Creek SC, Ladson SC, Hanahan SC, James Island SC, John’s Island SC, Daniel Island SC, West Ashley SC, Moncks Corner SC, Sullivans Island SC, Folly Beach SC, Isle of Palms SC and all of South Carolina, Nationally, and Internationally. Patients routinely fly into Charleston to be evaluated by COEM and to enjoy this beautiful city, which is a Condé Nast and Travel and Leisure Top Domestic and International Tourist Destination.