There is growing evidence which has scientist suspecting that a
common childhood throat infection increases the risk of neurological
disorders such as Tourette's syndrome.

These findings are based on a study conducted at the Group Health
Center for Health Studies (CHS) in Seattle, is published in the July
5, 2005 edition of the journal Pediatrics, accessible online at
http://www.pediatrics.org.

The study focused on patients of Dr Davis's co- operative health
service diagnosed with a neurological disorder between 1992 and
1999. The study group consisted of 200 children aged four to 13 and
compared them with healthy children in the same age group.

Based on their medical histories, the results of the study suggests
that strep throat (streptococcal infection) doubles the risk for a
first diagnosis of Tourette's Disorder (TS/TD), obsessive
compulsive
behaviors (OCD) or tic disorder within three months after infection.
In addition, multiple infections appear to approximately triple the
risk for a first diagnosis of these disorders within 12 months.

This could be an indication that the same antibodies that attack
streptococcal infection may also damage brain cells.


Robert L. Davis, MD, MPH, senior researcher at CHS and the study's
corresponding:


"Strep infections share certain proteins that stimulate a set of
antibodies that cross-react with the brain. Many scientists believe
the body's response to infection, and to the antibiotics prescribed
to fight it, is to produce antibodies that attack not only the
infection but may also damage brain cells that control movement and
behavior."

"Although the presence of these antibodies is more frequent among
children with tics or TS, there's much we still don't know, for
example, why do millions of children get strep throat every year,
but only a tiny fraction develop these disorders? Genetics more than
likely play a major role in these conditions, but strep throat might
be one of the triggers,"

"There are likely a number of different causes for these conditions,
which often show up first in childhood or adolescence. Following a
number of different leads from past research, we've found more
tantalizing clues about possible connections between childhood
infections and certain disorders. However, our findings certainly
don't suggest that there is any immediate need for a change in
medical - or parental - practice."

"We still don't know if treatment with common antibiotics helps
prevent these neurological conditions that might follow strep
throat, or reduce their severity, or shorten their duration if they
do occur."


Strep infections are common, but Davis said it was too early to know
whether choosing one treatment option or none at all would help
stave off tics.
"This is scientific research at this point," Davis said. "One thing
we didn't study was whether treatment (with penicillin) modifies
these conditions."


Davis does not suggest that parents and physicians should be more
worried. Nor did he suggest parents do anything differently if their
child gets strep throat. "Right now, this is all still in the
research stage," said Davis. "We still don't know if treatment with
common antibiotics helps prevent these neurologic conditions that
might follow strep throat, or reduce their severity, or shorten
their duration if they do occur."


Other study authors include Loren K. Mell, MD of the Pritsker School
of Medicine, University of Chicago, and David Owens, MD, of the
University of Washington School of Medicine.

Group Health is a consumer-governed, nonprofit health care system
that coordinates care and coverage. Based in Seattle, Group Health
and Group Health Options, Inc. serve nearly 550,000 members in
Washington and Idaho. Group Health's Center for Health Studies
conducts research related to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of
major health problems.


The team from the Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle
aimed to assess the strength of the link between strep infections
and the incidence of neurological disorders.


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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4647961.stm

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http://www.smh.com.au/news/health/tourette-link-to-strep-
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