Is PANS a subtype of encephalitis?
Not quite, but this is a matter of debate and may depend on our growing knowledge about the condition.
As of our understanding now, PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome, a group of conditions that also includes PANDAS) is not a type of encephalitis. While both conditions affect the brain, they are thought to be different in terms of the amount of inflammation involved as well as the type of symptoms.
PANS is a clinical diagnosis given to children who have a dramatic, sudden onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms. There is an immune and inflammatory component to PANS, but not to the extent seen in patients with encephalitis.
Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain often caused by a viral infection. Inflammation is usually visible on MRIs, which is usually not the case in PANS . Symptoms of encephalitis can range from mild, such as headache, fever, fatigue or weakness, to severe, such as seizures, difficulty speaking or hearing, and hallucinations.
So, while both PANS and encephalitis can cause neuropsychiatric symptoms, they have different etiologies and clinical presentations.
