A cohort study found a high prevalence of neurological soft signs (NSS) in children and adolescents with pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS). The study identified common NSSs associated with basal ganglia dysfunction, with patients exhibiting four or more NSSs showing higher Global Impairment Scores and more PANS symptoms. The presence of NSS correlated with increased impairment and symptom count, indicating the potential for NSSs as clinical markers of disease severity. The researchers recommended targeted neurological examinations to support PANS diagnosis and proposed further research into PANS pathophysiology.

Source: JAMA Network Open