June 2026

Hi Reader,

Our team has been hearing about an increase in strep-onset cases with various clinical presentations. Sydenham's chorea movement disorders and PANDAS/PANS cases with streptococcal onset are under-treated worldwide due to patient misdiagnosis.

This month, we will host a webinar with Madeleine Cunningham, Ph.D. (Immunology and strep expert from the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center), about the mechanisms of strep bacteria and the range of dangerous conditions they can cause. A panel of parents whose children were misdiagnosed will discuss the obstacles they faced and the fight it took to get proper treatment. We hope you will attend the Q&A to follow the webinar.

Sophia's Story

Sophia's story begins with her as a 13-year-old with Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), her struggle for a diagnosis of PANDAS, and the incredible healing that occurred once strep bacteria was identified. She is a healthy college student now, thanks to her mother's advocacy and persistence.

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Don't Miss Our Upcoming Webinar

Parents in the U.S.A. and Sweden will present their personal stories related to PANDAS and Sydenham chorea. Speaker Madeleine Cunningham, PhD, an immunologist and strep expert at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, will explain the etiology of Rheumatic Fever, Sydenham's chorea, and PANDAS-PANS, as well as the difficulties surrounding treatment and proper identification of these cases.
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​Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2026
​Time: 10:00 AM Pacific Time

Sincerely,

Diana Pohlman
Executive Director PANDAS Network
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