SR0237 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0237 LRB099 11500 GRL 32663 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) and pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcal infection (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 some of the following symptoms: tics or other abnormal movements, severe separation anxiety, generalized anxiety, irritability, aggression, personality changes, ADHD, marked deterioration in learning and school performance, and developmental regression, including deterioration in handwriting; and

WHEREAS, Pediatric infection-triggered autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder (PITAND) is similar to PANS and PANDAS in terms of presentation, except that PITAND can be triggered by numerous infections, including mycoplasma, pneumonia, mononucleosis, Lyme disease, viruses, and more; and

WHEREAS, Children with PANS, PANDAS, and PITAND 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, PANDAS, and PITAND; and

WHEREAS, Researchers at Moleculera Labs at the University of Oklahoma have developed PANS, PANDAS, and PITAND blood testing procedures; and

WHEREAS, PANDASNetwork.org is a nonprofit organization that raises the awareness about PANS, PANDAS, and PITAND; and

WHEREAS, The actual number of children suffering from PANS, PANDAS, and PITAND has been estimated to be approximately one out of every 50 children in the United States; and

WHEREAS, PANS, PANDAS, and PITAND are likely to be as common as pediatric cancer and pediatric diabetes; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of this serious health issue; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate the date of October 9 of 2015 and 2016 as PANS, PANDAS, and PITAND Awareness Day in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Wendy Nawara, President of PANDAS/PITAND/PANS Advocacy and Support of Illinois.