How to Document a PANDAS Flare for Your Child's Doctor
A well-documented PANDAS flare changes what a specialist can do for your child. Here is what to capture, when, and in what format.
Capture Onset: The First 48 Hours
The most clinically valuable flare data is the onset pattern. PANDAS is characterized by abrupt onset — symptoms appearing overnight rather than gradually. In the first 48 hours, document: date and approximate time you first noticed the change, which symptom appeared first, how sudden the change appeared, any illness or exposure in the prior 7–21 days, severity ratings on a 0–10 scale, and any medications given.
Daily Tracking Through the Flare
Log each symptom domain daily throughout the flare. Also track: new strep tests and results, medication changes, sleep quality, school attendance, and any significant behavioral incidents.
The Post-Flare Summary
Compile a one-page flare summary: onset date and abruptness, peak severity per symptom domain, duration of the acute phase, any identified trigger, treatments tried and response, current status relative to pre-flare baseline.
The Documentation Error Most Families Make
Describing severity in qualitative terms without anchoring to a scale. "Terrible week" is not data. "Separation anxiety peaked at 9 from October 3–8, with confirmed strep exposure on September 24" is data that a specialist can work with.
PANDAS Tracker captures flare data as part of daily tracking — no separate system required. Free on iOS and Android.