But with all respect, (and our diagnoses looked like that too), a child with Pans Pandas may, as part of that condition, display all the behavioural traits, all the anxieties, all the sensory and social issues you see presenting in a thorough assessment. I think it is more than likely that many children are diagnosed with ASD, or indeed with eating disorders and OCD as the main presenting condition when really it is pans pandas, perhaps as well as, or layered onto, or exacerbating, ASD traits.
And yes, autism and adhd are meant to be present lifelong. They could have been present in the form of traits when the child was young - but, had they never become as extreme as they later did with other comorbidities (ie Pans pandas) the parents would never have sought diagnosis.
My daughter age 4 would not stop running around, was very demand avoidant, was unbribeable- would never do anything we wanted her to for a reward afterwards, it always had to be an upfront treat then she might do the thing. Was literal minded and obsessed with fairness. But none of those things to a degree that concerned us, because she was four. If they'd passed off I wouldn't have given it another thought. I see all those present in her autistic behaviour now, but I think almost everyone could pick out some traits of adhd or autism from their memories of their own children. So it makes the memories of early life section null and void really as it's just picking out the narrative thay fits how they are now.
But my main point is a bit different.
I would go further and say that autism and adhd themselves are diagnosed and treated in a stupid, blinkered way that gives no support for or thought to biomechanical issues. Medicine fails to recognise other diseases that look a bit like the same symptoms, and fails to address other elements of ASD and ADHD themselves, and our children are being hugely let down. Gaslit and told that it's their mental attitude that they can change for any symptom relief, not their poor little overstressed bodies.
I honestly think only an absolutely brilliant paediatrician with knowledge of Pans, plus OT, plus other functional medical areas, maybe haemotology, neurology, could diagnose properly. Such a person cross-specialism doesn't exist.
I am not saying that ASD diagnoses are wrong. But I believe the latest science of root causes- the genetic component PLUS the epileptic PLUS environmental stress on the cells all need to be present to create autism like symptoms that bother you in daily life.
I would say post-disease immunological inflammation is the very definition of stress on the cells so I am not surprised that children with Pans etc, plus a few autistic like traits, are diagnosed as asd.
The real problem is that once you've got thay diagnosis you get fuck all. Then it's game over for any neurological, haematological, macro nutrient investigation. It's all simpering CAMHS types saying "but it's due to autism, your child has to use the Zones of Regulation" When their brains are on fire with inflammation.
And don't get me started on B12 deficiency - the great undiscovered medical scandal of our age. Affects many many people. No clear test for it. Clinical symptoms, among others, EXACTLY THE SAME as the neurodevelopmental parts of autism. Sensory sensitivity.. Gut disorders. Oh and sleep disorder, hypermobility, sensitivity to light. And as with PANS Pandas GPs ignore you, you are stupid or making it up.
Nobody will treat children for it in the UK. It makes me fucking rage.