PANDAS
Case Study
A postpubertal girl presented with 3-month history of sudden-onset motor tics involving her limbs, torso, and face occurring several times daily. Initially, she presented to the emergency department with complaints of sudden-onset “seizures.” The imaging workup during her visit included electroencephalogram, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography, which were all normal. The specialist’s conclusion was essentially a suspicion of malingering. The patient went to another physician, who, after workup, treated her for yeast with pharmacotherapy. After 1 month, her symptoms did not improve.
The patient and family presented to our clinic distraught and frustrated, as she was intending to drive soon, and this had been going on for approximately 3 months without an acceptable diagnosis or improvement. We performed an initial intake and were able to witness in the offi ce what had been considered a seizure, which was quickly identifi ed as an adventitious motor tic. Results…