PRINTER'S NO. 1645
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
317
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY EMRICK, DAVIS, BENNINGHOFF, V. BROWN, CALTAGIRONE,
D. COSTA, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, DUSH, FREEMAN, GILLEN,
HENNESSEY, HILL-EVANS, KINSEY, LONGIETTI, MACKENZIE, MILLARD,
B. MILLER, MURT, NEILSON, O'NEILL, PICKETT, READSHAW, RYAN,
SOLOMON, SONNEY, WARD, WARREN AND WHEELAND, MAY 5, 2017
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MAY 5, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the need to raise awareness of pediatric accute-
onset neuropsychiatric syndrome and pediatric autoimmune
neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcal
infections in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome
(PANS) and pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder
associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS) create the
sudden onset of obsessive compulsive disorder in children,
causing previously healthy and emotionally adjusted children to
experience severe anxiety and emotional disturbances; and
WHEREAS, Children with PANS and PANDAS tend to manifest
symptoms including, but not limited to, tics or other abnormal
movements, severe separation anxiety, generalized anxiety,
irritability, aggression, personality changes, ADHD, marked
deterioration in learning and school performance, extreme
oversensitivity of the five senses, sleep disturbances and
developmental regression, including deterioration in
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handwriting; and
WHEREAS, PANS is broader than PANDAS as PANS includes
disorders associated with a preceding infection such as
mycoplasma pneumoniae, mononucleosis, Lyme disease and viruses,
the bacterial immunity to antibiotics and acute-onset
noninfectious triggers to environmental factors and metabolic
dysfunctions; and
WHEREAS, Treatment plans for PANDAS should be similar to
those for PANS; and
WHEREAS, Children with PANS and PANDAS may experience
moderate to dramatic improvement with antibiotics, intravenous
immunoglobulin treatment or plasmapheresis; and
WHEREAS, Researchers at the National Institute of Mental
Health are currently engaged in extensive research and testing
on how to effectively treat PANS and PANDAS; and
WHEREAS, PANS and PANDAS are commonly misdiagnosed because
symptoms are mistaken for behavioral problems or rebellious
developmental stages; and
WHEREAS, It is estimated that PANS and PANDAS affect
approximately 1 out of every 200 children in the United States
and could become as common as pediatric cancer and pediatric
diabetes; and
WHEREAS, Educating the public is imperative in order to
increase awareness of PANS and PANDAS and to continue and expand
research of these serious health disorders; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
need to raise awareness for pediatric acute-onset
neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) and pediatric autoimmune
neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcal
infections (PANDAS) in Pennsylvania; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That educating of the public, educators, medical
professionals and parents and guardians is imperative to arm
individuals who care for children experiencing PANS and PANDAS
with the knowledge to advocate for improving the health care of
children affected by these disorders.
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