PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day
October 9
About PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day
PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day takes place on Friday, 9 October 2026. The day aims to increase research, education and support for children and families affected by Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS). It is spearheaded by the PANDAS Network, the leading nonprofit dedicated to these conditions.
What is PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day?
PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day is an annual health observance focused on two related childhood conditions in which a sudden infection appears to trigger severe neuropsychiatric symptoms. PANDAS is linked specifically to streptococcal infections, while PANS can follow a wider range of bacterial or viral triggers. The day works to improve recognition of these conditions among parents, teachers and medical professionals, and to push for greater research and earlier diagnosis.
When is PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day?
PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day is held every year on 9 October. In 2026 it falls on a Friday. The date is fixed, and many US states formally recognise it each year through annual awareness day resolutions.
Why PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day Matters
In the United States, an estimated 1 in 200 children are affected by PANS and PANDAS. Symptoms can appear suddenly and dramatically following an infection, including obsessive-compulsive behaviours, severe anxiety, tics, restricted eating and changes in handwriting or motor skills. Because these symptoms overlap with other conditions, diagnosis is often delayed or missed entirely. Raising awareness matters because early diagnosis can lead to long-term remission, and many families spend years searching for answers before finding appropriate treatment.
How to Get Involved in PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day
There are many ways to support affected families and spread understanding:
- Distribute information – Share flyers and fact sheets at your school, workplace or doctor’s surgery to help others recognise the warning signs.
- Write to your representatives – Contact elected officials to ask them to support PANS/PANDAS awareness resolutions and improve access to treatment.
- Wear and share awareness colours – Show solidarity with affected families and post a photo to encourage others to learn more.
- Organise a fundraiser – Host an event or run a fundraising drive to support research and family support services.
- Educate teachers and carers – Help schools understand the sudden behavioural changes a child with PANS or PANDAS may experience.
- Support affected families – Offer practical help to parents navigating diagnosis and treatment, which can be a long and exhausting process.
- Donate to research – Contribute to the PANDAS Network or similar organisations funding studies into causes and treatments.
- Share verified information online – Use the day’s hashtags to amplify accurate resources from trusted nonprofits.
History of PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day
The awareness day is led by the PANDAS Network, an American nonprofit founded in 2009 by a group of parents and healthcare professionals. The organisation was created to raise awareness of PANS and PANDAS at a time when both conditions were poorly understood and rarely diagnosed.
Since its founding, the PANDAS Network has worked to establish 9 October as an annual day of recognition. A major part of its strategy has been advocating for statewide PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day resolutions, securing official proclamations from US state governments that formally acknowledge the day and the families it represents.
Over the years the observance has grown into an international effort, with families, clinicians and advocates around the world using the day to call for more research, better diagnostic guidance and improved access to treatments such as antibiotics, intravenous immunoglobulin and plasmapheresis.
Noteworthy Facts About PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day
- PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day is observed every year on 9 October.
- An estimated 1 in 200 children in the United States are affected by PANS and PANDAS.
- The day is led by the PANDAS Network, a nonprofit founded in 2009 by parents and healthcare professionals.
- Symptoms come on suddenly following a strep, bacterial or viral infection.
- Early diagnosis can result in long-term remission, making awareness critical.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day?
It is an annual day raising awareness of PANS and PANDAS, two childhood conditions in which infections appear to trigger sudden neuropsychiatric symptoms. The day promotes research, education and support for affected families.
When is PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day in 2026?
PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day falls on Friday, 9 October 2026. It is observed on the same date every year.
Who organises PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day?
The day is led by the PANDAS Network, a US nonprofit founded in 2009 by parents and healthcare professionals to raise awareness of these conditions.
Spread the Word
Help raise awareness by sharing PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day with your friends, family and followers. Use the hashtags #PANSPANDASAwarenessDay and #PANSPANDASAwarenessDay2026 on social media. The more people who recognise the signs, the sooner affected children can be diagnosed and treated.
Related Awareness Days
- Tourettes Awareness Day – Another condition involving tics and neurological symptoms that benefits from greater public understanding.
- Action Anxiety Day – A mental health day relevant to families managing the anxiety symptoms linked to PANS and PANDAS.
- KBG Syndrome Awareness Day – A rare-condition awareness day that, like this one, relies on families campaigning for recognition.
Links
- Visit the official PANDAS Network Awareness Day page
- Explore more awareness days at AwarenessDays.com
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