State Sen. Tom Cullerton's (D-Dist. 23) Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) legislation was signed into law by Gov. Bruce Rauner on Friday.
To help raise awareness and educate medical professionals, Cullerton passed a measure to create an advisory council to make recommendations to the Illinois Department of Public Health on awareness and education among doctors, school-based health centers and mental health providers.
“No one wants to see young children suffer," Cullerton said. "There is an immediate need to educate medical professionals and the general public on the PANDAS symptoms. The faster we diagnose children affected by PANDAS, the more quickly we can begin treatment.”
Based on the advisory council’s recommendations, further legislation may be introduced.