REFERENCE TITLE: PANDAS; PITAND; PANS; awareness day. |
State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-first Legislature Second Regular Session 2014
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HR 2005 |
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Introduced by Representatives Ugenti, Forese
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A RESOLUTION
proclaiming October 9 of each year as PANS, PANDAS and PITAND Awareness Day in the State of Arizona.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
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 fifty children in the United States; and
Whereas, PANS, PANDAS and PITAND are likely 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 House of Representatives of the State of Arizona:
1. That the Members of the House of Representatives proclaim October 9 of each year as PANS, PANDAS and PITAND Awareness Day in the State of Arizona.
2. That the Secretary of State transmit copies of this Resolution to the Governor of the State of Arizona, the Arizona Department of Health Services, Dr. Susan Swedo at the National Institute of Mental Health, Dr. Madeleine Cunningham at Moleculera Labs at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and the website administrator of PANDASNetwork.org.