PANS/PANDAS: Now there’s a Treatment Center of Excellence
In the 1980s, a subset of children were noted to have an abrupt onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder, along with neuropsychiatric symptoms triggered by an infection of some kind. This lead to the development of diagnoses of PANS (Pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome) and PANDAS (Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections). For decades, understanding how to diagnose and treat PANS/PANDAS [...]
Arizona Celebrates Success and Continues Statewide Zika Preparedness Activities
Since February, public health, health care, and vector control partners have been working together to prepare for and protect Arizona communities against Zika virus. One of our recent accomplishments was the Arizona Zika Action Plan Summit, held on May 24th, 2016. The summit aimed to share our current knowledge about Zika virus and provide a forum for coordinated, statewide planning [...]
Arizona Exercise Focusing on Planning for Pediatric Safety Featured on National Website
This month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services highlights a December 2015 Arizona preparedness collaboration between ADHS, the Arizona Pediatric Disaster Coalition and Arizona schools. We conducted an emergency preparedness exercise to improve the relationship between hospitals and schools in order to streamline emergency care for vulnerable pediatric populations. Using a whole community approach, local schools, law enforcement, [...]
One Health Champions in the Making
More than 40 high school students gathered on August 16 for an interactive One Health Career Exploration Day to learn about the connection between human, animal, and environmental health. The event was led by representatives from the Vector-borne & Zoonotic Disease Program and Food Safety Program at the Arizona Department of Health Services, Maricopa County Department of Public Health, Arizona Department [...]
Arizona Youth Begin the Annual Hunt for Mosquitoes
The Arizona Department of Health Services, Maricopa County Department of Public Health, and the University of Arizona will kick-off the second Great Arizona Mosquito Hunt this week. The Great Arizona Mosquito Hunt began as a collaborative project in 2015 to teach high school students about mosquito biology and emerging mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. These emerging diseases [...]
Do you have a preteen or teen? Protect their future with vaccines.
As parents, we know making sure our kids eat healthy, are physically active, get plenty of sleep, and have regular physicals is crucial to their overall health. But did you also you know preteen and teens need vaccines that protect against serious and potentially life-threatening diseases like meningitis, whooping cough and cancers caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV)? We’re [...]