Ireland’s First EVER PANDAS Awareness Conference to take place in Dublin
21st October 2014 US medical experts will visit Dublin tomorrow to speak at the inaugural PANDAS Conference to raise awareness of PANDAS syndrome (Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections). The Conference will be open to medical professionals and the general public and will be held in Dublin’s Convention Centre on Wednesday 22nd October 2014.
PANDAS was first identified in the US in 1998 and latest research states that it affects 1 in 200 children in the US. It is a neuropsychiatric disease that can strike young children and results in a range of debilitating symptoms including severe anxiety, paranoia and obsessive compulsive disorder. The disease has been described by medics as a rare autoimmune disorder in children. Because it is believed to be linked with Streptococcal bacterial infections, it is frequently referred to as rheumatic fever of the brain.
PANDAS has an encephalitic-like onset following an infection. Antibodies mistakenly attack a part of the brain called the Basal Ganglia, resulting in sudden onset of acute, neuropsychiatric behavioural changes that can include: OCD, tics, age regression, separation anxiety, contamination fears, paranoia, insomnia, anorexia, violent rages and running away.
The Conference in Dublin aims to raise awareness of the condition amongst medical professionals and the general public. Speakers will include Neurologist and PANDAS specialist, Dr Rosario Trifiletti and developmental Paediatrician, Dr Catherine Nicolaides, all with expertise in treating children with PANDAS in their clinics in the US and Denmark.
PANDAS Advocate, Attorney and Author of two books on the subject, ‘Saving Sammy’ and ‘Childhood Interrupted’, Beth Alison Maloney, will also speak of her experiences and her son’s full recovery from the disorder.
The Conference in Dublin has been organised by PANDAS Ireland and led by Irish mother, Karen Cafferky whose five year old boy, Ethan is affected by the condition.
Karen Cafferky, PANDAS Ireland said: “Although PANDAS is more common than was initially thought, the reality is that the condition is not well recognised and in Ireland especially, treatment is hard to find. My son was finally diagnosed with PANDAS this year after 15 months of consultations with various specialists and still receives no treatment. The purpose of this Conference is to raise awareness of PANDAS with medical professionals and the general public so that we can get the care that we need for our children.”
Supported by Fáilte Ireland, the Conference will take place in Dublin’s Convention Centre from 2.00 pm – 6.00 pm. Parents, physicians, nurses, therapists, teachers, and anyone interested in learning more about this condition and treatment are encouraged to attend. Attendance is free of charge to doctors with a charge of €25 for other individuals.
For more information on PANDAS Ireland and the upcoming conference email PANDASIreland@gmail.com, log onto www.pandasireland.ie or visit Karen Cafferky’s blog at http://kcbloggs.wordpress.com/2014/03/05/my-son-and-p-a-n-d-a-s/
About PANDAS Ireland
PANDAS Ireland is a group of parents whose children are living with PANDAS/PANS. The group is focused on raising awareness of PANDAS/ PANS in Ireland, to support the medical community in their mission to heal children suffering from PANDAS/PANS and to create opportunities to assist families searching for solutions.