Are tics caused by strep throat?

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	Hi there, Just a quick question concerning my  6 year old daughter who has PDD-NOS. She just experienced some tics over the weekend that resulted in an ER visit because for one we had no idea what they were and were concerned she might have had a rx to her meds. (methylphenedate for ADHD and respirdal for aggression issues.) She has been on respirdal since last summer and just started methylphenedate in November. Anyhow, she had an episode last Thursday of twitching in face, then eyes started to roll and her arm jerked sideways.  We were so scared. Her temp. in the ER registered normal, but I felt her back and it felt warm. Her doctor later looked at her tonsils and they looked enlarged. I took her in for throat culture and blood test and it confirmed strep. We started antibiotics tonight and by bedtime her face looked a lot better. Maybe coincidence but we are not sure. My question to you is do any of your kids have tics or did you notice any after an episode of strep? Thank you! RAR           I can't say I have experience with this, but maybe it was the fever, not the strep in and of itself.  Hope you get an explanation for your scary experience!   Strep HAS been associated with tics and with a rare complication called PANDAS which can result in severe behavioral issues.  If any of our kids get sore throats, take them IMMEDIATELY to the doctor for antibiotics.  I can't emphasize this enough.  However, my son is a carrier of strep but never shows symptoms until he gets to the scarletina (rash ) stage.  I am certain his Tourette's is somehow linked to undetected cases of strep in him.  A neurologist told me to always get him treated IMMEDIATELY for strep since kids with Tourette's are more prone to PANDAS.Im a Paramedic in a very busy emergency room. I'll talk to my dr friends and get more information for you! It was probably early enough in the incubation period that he hadn't spiked a fever yet!  (not that that was the question you were asking).  From what I gather from this sight. Even the slightest change in there body or how they are feeling can cause them "tic".  The autism prevents them from communicating the way they need/want to. They are unable to say I feel like crap my throat hurts.. which probably frusturated him... agravating the child and possibly causeing the tic. I wasn't presnt for the episode and don't have all the details  so I can't tell you for sure..  but its a possiblity! I'd listen to tyzoa.... shes seems like one smart cookie!  I had never heard of PANDAS before -- what would we do without you, tzoya?! PANDAS stands for "pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections."  Here's a frequently asked questions article about it, which says not just tics but also obsessive-compulsive behaviors can have a sudden onset or explosive increase due to strep. http://www.cidpusa.org/PANDAS.htm I agree with tzoya that we need to be very vigilant about getting strep diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible.  Better safe than sorry!   It's just that I've walked on coals, so I've learned all that it takes to keep my feet from burning.  Wait another 14 years and you'll be the same! BTW --- Thanks for looking it up for everyone. I was too pooped to. tzoya39113.2102546296 Another comment about strep.  I always ask my son's teachers to please let me know if any child in his class is ever diagnosed with strep.  Last year a little girl was, and the moment Andrew started acting the slightes bit "off", I took him to the Ped.  Sure enough, he had strep!  Very contagious with young children especially. Also, a child with strep should not return to school until they have taken a minimum of 24 hours of antibiotics and they have no fever whatsoever. I'm sure this is related to what you're talking about.  My friend's daughter had recurrent Scarlett Fever which is a Strep offshoot.  They didn't know what it was.  She had no other symptoms except a rash on her neck.  She was a straight A student and eventually her grades started to plummet and behavior was odd.  The recurrent Scarlett Fever did irreversable damage to her brain and she now has a DX of ADD.  She also has facial tics.  Jeez! I'm bumping this up. I think evryone here should read the link. I had no idea. Thank you all for the education.
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