Strep and Anxiety in Kids
Anxiety comes from many things and one of them appears to be streptococcal infections in children. Sometimes, unexpected findings can be seen in a hospital setting and, if the researcher in the physician is peeked, it leads to an increase of our knowledge about things like anxiety.
The July 2004 issue of Archives of Disease in Children details just such a finding where they looked at cases of post-strep infection and the occurrence of either movement disorders and/or psychiatric disorders. Sixty-two and one-half percent of the children with movement disorders also had a psychiatric diagnosis after having had strep infections. The disorders included OCD, GAD and depressive episodes. There were also conduct and hyperactivity disorders in addition.
The disorders found weren't short-lived, either. At an almost three-year follow-up, 72.5% of the kids still had movement and psychiatric disorders. The researchers conclude that strep-related movement disorders and "disabling psychiatric" co-morbidity may be accounted for by such factors as genetics, developmental status, and the patient's sex. Boys had a slightly higher incidence of the disorders than girls (69% to 65%). Post-strep disorders were also found in family members.
Related Topics: Strep Linked to Neurological Conditions, When to Keep Junior Home from Daycare
Technorati Tags: strep, anxiety, OCD, ADHD
The July 2004 issue of Archives of Disease in Children details just such a finding where they looked at cases of post-strep infection and the occurrence of either movement disorders and/or psychiatric disorders. Sixty-two and one-half percent of the children with movement disorders also had a psychiatric diagnosis after having had strep infections. The disorders included OCD, GAD and depressive episodes. There were also conduct and hyperactivity disorders in addition.
The disorders found weren't short-lived, either. At an almost three-year follow-up, 72.5% of the kids still had movement and psychiatric disorders. The researchers conclude that strep-related movement disorders and "disabling psychiatric" co-morbidity may be accounted for by such factors as genetics, developmental status, and the patient's sex. Boys had a slightly higher incidence of the disorders than girls (69% to 65%). Post-strep disorders were also found in family members.
Related Topics: Strep Linked to Neurological Conditions, When to Keep Junior Home from Daycare
Technorati Tags: strep, anxiety, OCD, ADHD
7 Comments:
If you hadn't said that it was found in family members too, I might have wondered if it was the illness or the antibiotic treatment for the illness that could be the cuprit.
This is interesting, especially when it seems impossible to keep your child from getting strep once they begin school or other groups where they interact closely with other kids.
I know of a little 3 year old boy who would not eat for several months: 3 months I believe. He was so traumatized by the pain of swallowing he would not swallow solid food. It started when he swallowed when he was brushing his teeth; the swallowing was painful. After that he would lick food and he would drink but he would not eat. He was seen by specialists at several hospitals, including a leading pediatric hospital in Maryland and no one could find the problem for his not eating. Eventually he began to eat again on his own; they just kept giving him food and especially his favorites. So even pain from strep (or sore throat or whatever this boy had) caused that severe a reaction.
~Tasker
my daughter is having problems with a red throat. She also complains of headaches, her chest hurts and stomach aches. I was starting to think she did it so she didn't have to go to bed at night, but now I'm wondering if it isn't an anxiety disorder. Thanks for posting, I'm gonna make an appt for her to get checked.
I've been struggling with a severe anxiety disorder for almost 3 years now. It has caused me to drop out of school, quit my job, and pretty much become a hermit. My doctor just tested my blood for strep, and sure enough, it was positive. I started my antibiotics today, so hopefully that will help!
I have a seven year old son with ADHD, he recently began asking for water this week and getting very anxious when he did'nt have access to cold water. He also has been complaining of headaches and stomach pain, but not on a consistent basis, now I wonder if he needs blood test to rule out strep. We called his doctor because this behavior came out of the blue and he has never been like this before. We even made an emergency appt. with a psychcologist to rule out anxiety. Very interesting posting, thanks for the info, we're going to look in to it.
My 8 yr old daughter tested positive for strep yesterday. She had no sore throat or trouble swallowing. What she did have was vomiting, diarrhea, low stomach pain, headache and fever. I thought she had a virus. But since she just finished EOGs last week, maybe it is anxiety related. She is also a child with mild ADHD.
My son recently received a Meningitis Vaccine and soon afterward began to display signs of obsessive compulsive disorder. Although this is not an issue of strep throat, I understand that there is a streptoccal component to meningitis. Could there be a possible connection between vaccine and the onset of OCD?
My daughter spent 5 months last year covered head to toe with psoriasis triggered by strep. (It took 3 doctors and a biopsy to figure out what it was-FYI-it was very atypical and if I had not been persistant it would've continued to be treated incorrectly) She had strep this summer and the psoriasis returned-but was milder b/c we knew what it was and treated it quickly and correctly. Now, she is exhibiting mini-panic attacks.Anxiety over things that wouldn't have bothered her before. Her teacher and I are concerned-her doctor seemed to think I was the anxious one-but after reading about the link between anxiety and strep-I'm going to persue this further.
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