I’m so glad you’ve joined us today, as we explore PANDAS and it’s effects on children.  Have you ever heard of PANDAS, or has your child ever suffered from this?  I’m not talking about the cute furry black and white bear at the zoo.  PANDAS (http://pandasnetwork.org/) is an acronym for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcus infection.  Not all children, who are infected by Strep, will get PANDAS.  Although I do believe that the percentage of children who are at risk for this is increasing, and it warrants a conversation. My intention is not to scare or worry you as a parent, but as a pediatric nurse practitioner and child and adolescent therapist, I feel that it’s my responsibility to bring attention to this disorder in an effort to educate and encourage you to seek early treatment for your child, should it occur. I’ve invited my guest Dr. Susan Schulman (mailto:[email protected]), to join my conversation.  Susan has been a community pediatrician since 1976, and developed a special interest in PANDAS, beginning in 1999.   Since that time she has diagnosed and treated many children with this disorder. Dr. Schulman is a graduate of the George Washington University School of Medicine .  She is  Voluntary Attending in the Department of Pediatrics at Maimonides Infants and Children's Hospital in Brooklyn, NY and Clinical Associate  Professor of Pediatrics at SUNY Downstate School of Medicine. I know you won’t want to miss this important information!